Clin Nutr Res.  2016 Jul;5(3):143-152. 10.7762/cnr.2016.5.3.143.

Nutritional Factors Affecting Mental Health

• Lim SY
• Kim EJ
• Kim A
• Lee HJ
• Choi HJ
• Yang SJ

• KMID: 2344886
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2016.5.3.143

Abstract

Dietary intake and nutritional status of individuals are important factors affecting mental health and the development of psychiatric disorders. Majority of scientific evidence relating to mental health focuses on depression, cognitive function, and dementia, and limited evidence is available about other psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. As life span of human being is increasing, the more the prevalence of mental disorders is, the more attention rises. Lists of suggested nutritional components that may be beneficial for mental health are omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Saturated fat and simple sugar are considered detrimental to cognitive function. Evidence on the effect of cholesterol is conflicting; however, in general, blood cholesterol levels are negatively associated with the risk of depression. Collectively, the aims of this review are to introduce known nutritional factors for mental health, and to discuss recent issues of the nutritional impact on cognitive function and healthy brain aging.

Keyword

Cognitive function; Dementia; Depression; Healthy brain aging; Mental health

MeSH Terms

Aging
Brain
Cholesterol
Cognition
Dementia
Depression
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Folic Acid
Humans
Mental Disorders
Mental Health*
Niacin
Nutritional Status
Phospholipids
Prevalence
Schizophrenia
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B 6
Cholesterol
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Folic Acid
Niacin
Phospholipids
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B 6

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