The Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Depression

Abstract

In recent years, the relationship between Mediterranean diet (MD) and mental health has attracted much attention as a healthy diet model. This paper systematically explores the potential impact of MD on depression and its mechanism of action. The current research focuses on the various biologically active ingredients of the MD and the connection between their nutritional components and physical health. The impact of its food combination on the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) was analyzed. However, existing studies have focused on observational analysis, and the evidence on the association of MD and depression is still insufficient. This paper analyzes the potential impact of MD on depression and its mechanism of action, and draws the results: MD may provide innovative nutritional intervention strategies for depression prevention and treatment through triple pathways of anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection and metabolic regulation. However, existing studies still have limitations such as sample heterogeneity, subjectivity of dietary compliance measurements, and insufficient evidence for the effect of long-term interventions. Future research can focus on combining multiomics technology and precise nutrition strategies to deeply analyze the interaction mechanisms of diet, microorganisms, and brain axis to provide a more solid scientific basis for dietary intervention in depression.