Exercise Counters Mood Effects of Western Diet Through Gut and Hormonal Pathways

A new study from University College Cork reveals that exercise can offset mood-related harm caused by a Western-style diet by altering gut metabolites and hormone levels. Published in Brain Medicine, the research shows that voluntary running reduces depression-like behaviors in rats fed high-fat, high-sugar foods. The cafeteria diet significantly changed gut metabolism, but exercise partially restored balance, boosting mood-related metabolites such as anserine, indole-3-carboxylate, and deoxyinosine.

Hormonal analysis showed that exercise lowered the elevated insulin and leptin levels caused by the unhealthy diet, while also modifying GLP-1 and PYY responses. Although the diet prevented the usual increase in hippocampal neurogenesis seen with exercise, physical activity still produced clear antidepressant-like effects. The findings suggest that exercise supports mental health even when diet quality is poor, highlighting the gut–brain–hormone network as a key mediator. This work offers new insight into designing lifestyle strategies for mood and metabolic disorders.

18-11-2025