Poor-Quality Eating Patterns Lead to Brain Changes Associated with Depression and Anxiety
Summary
Study shows that a low-quality nutritional diet can lead to brain changes associated with depression and anxiety.
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In recent years, concerns about mental health have increased worldwide due to high rates of stress, anxiety, depression and also due to social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Scientific studies are increasingly trying to understand the various correlations between sadness and lifestyle habits and, now, a new jobpublished in late May in Nutritional Neuroscience, shows that eating a low-quality nutritional diet can lead to brain changes associated with depression and anxiety.
“This study showed changes in neurotransmitters and gray matter volume in people who eat a poor diet, compared to those who eat a Mediterranean-style diet, which is considered very healthy,” says the nutritionist. Marcella Garcezdirector and professor at the Brazilian Association of Nutrology (ABRAN).
According to the doctor, researchers also found that these changes are associated with mental rumination (a chain of negative, repetitive thoughts), which is part of the diagnostic criteria for conditions that affect mental health, such as depression and anxiety.
“When someone eats a poor-quality diet, there is a reduction in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and an increase in glutamate – both neurotransmitters, along with a reduction in the volume of gray matter – in the frontal area of the brain. Neurotransmitters have either excitatory or inhibitory activity, and when there is a discrepancy in these effects, there is a greater predisposition to problems such as sadness and anxiety,” says the doctor.
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, while excitatory activity comes mainly from glutamate. This may explain the association between what we eat and how we feel.
“Interestingly, this can create a dangerous circular relationship, predisposing to obesity and depression, as well as making it difficult to treat these conditions. Many studies have already shown that GABA and glutamate are also closely involved in appetite and food intake. Reduced GABA and/or increased glutamate can also be a factor in making unhealthy food choices,” she says.
According to the study, people who eat an unhealthy diet – high in sugar and saturated fat – have imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well as reduced gray matter volume in the front part of the brain.
“This part of the brain is implicated in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. It is possible that obesity and a diet high in saturated fat cause changes in glutamate and GABA metabolism and neurotransmission, as has been previously shown in animal studies,” says the doctor.
Marcella Garcez explains that distinct changes in the gut microbiome, due to dietary patterns high in saturated fats and simple sugars, impact the cellular machinery that drives the production of GABA and glutamate.
“A diet high in saturated fat and sugar has also been shown to reduce the number of parvalbumin interneurons, which carry out the function of transporting GABA where it is needed. In addition, unhealthy diets also impact glucose, increasing blood sugar and insulin. This increases glutamate in the brain and plasma, thus reducing the production and release of GABA,” says the nutritionist.
The study explains that a diet high in fat and cholesterol can cause changes in cell membranes that also alter the release of neurotransmitters.
“These changes in brain chemistry can lead to changes in the volume of gray matter in the brain, as observed in this study. Therefore, food choices must be well managed, which is why seeking the help of a nutritionist is also essential in treatments for depression and anxiety, when the mental health professional realizes that healthy eating is being neglected,” concludes Marcella.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
