Poor quality diet makes our brains sad

Research indicates that a poor diet may trigger brain changes linked to depression and anxiety, as per a study examining brain chemistry, structure, and diet habits of 30 participants. Brain scans revealed neurotransmitter and grey matter volume alterations in those with poor diets compared to Mediterranean-style diet adherents, associated with rumination, common in depression and anxiety.

Conducted by the University of Reading, Roehampton University, FrieslandCampina (Netherlands), and Kings College London, the study, published in Nutritional Neuroscience, found reduced gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and increased glutamate levels, alongside diminished frontal grey matter volume due to poor diet. Animal studies suggest obesity and saturated fat-rich diets alter glutamate and GABA metabolism, influenced by gut microbiome changes. High-fat, high-sugar diets reduce parvalbumin interneurons vital for GABA delivery, elevate blood glucose and insulin, impacting neurotransmitter balance and possibly brain grey matter volume changes observed in this study.