Exploring the Role of Nutrition in Mental Health: Dietary Patterns, Components, and Emotion Regulation

Nutritional psychiatry is a rapidly growing field investigating how dietary habits influence psychological functioning and brain health. Recent evidence points to strong associations between nutrient-rich eating patterns—such as the Mediterranean and MIND diets—and lower rates of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Conversely, diets high in refined sugars, processed fats, and low in essential nutrients are linked to emotional distress and decreased cognitive flexibility. Despite these advances, the mechanisms underlying these relationships remain insufficiently understood. In particular, the role of emotion-regulation processes in mediating the relationship between diet quality and mental health outcomes has received limited empirical attention, especially within young adult populations in Central and Eastern Europe. Moreover, specific nutritional components, including flavonoids, FODMAPs, and other bioactive compounds, require further investigation to understand their psychobiological effects. Addressing these gaps is critical for deepening our understanding of how nutrition may serve as a modifiable determinant in mental health prevention and treatment.This Research Topic aims to elucidate how dietary patterns and components influence mental health through emotion-regulation mechanisms and related cognitive processes. It seeks to identify dietary strategies that enhance emotional resilience and psychological well-being, explore cross-cultural variations in dietary habits, and clarify the biological and behavioral mechanisms underpinning nutritional effects on mood disorders. In doing so, it intends to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between nutrition science, psychology, neuroscience, and public health to build practical frameworks for dietary interventions that support mental health outcomes.To gather further insights into the interplay between diet and mental processes, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Mechanistic studies linking dietary components to emotion-regulation pathways and brain healtho Clinical and observational studies examining Mediterranean, MIND, or other dietary patterns in mood and anxiety disorderso The role of micronutrients, flavonoids, probiotics, and FODMAPs in cognitive and emotional functioningo Cross-cultural and regional approaches to diet quality and mental health in Central and Eastern Europeo Psychological and behavioral factors influencing diet adherence and emotional well-beingo Interventions leveraging nutrition to enhance emotion regulation and mental resilience Topic editors: Jia Zhao, Wei Cui, Xinjing Yang, José Aparecido Da Silva Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83076/exploring-the-role-of-nutrition-in-mental-health-dietary-patterns-components-and-emotion-regulation