Cited by 179Probiotics and Fermented FoodsGut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Fermented foods, the gut and mental health: a mechanistic overview with implications for depression and anxiety

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Aslam, Hajara, Green, Jessica, Jacka, Felice N., Collier, Fiona, Berk, Michael, Pasco, Julie, Dawson, Samantha L.·2020·Nutritional Neuroscience

Abstract

Mental disorders including depression and anxiety are often comorbid with gut problems, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between mental health and gut function. Several mechanisms might explain this comorbidity, such as inflammation and immune activation; intestinal permeability; perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; neurotransmitter/neuropeptide dysregulation; dietary deficiencies; and disturbed gut microbiome composition. The potential of modulating the microbiome-gut-brain axis, and subsequently mental health, through the use of functional foods, is an emerging and novel topic of interest. Fermented foods are considered functional foods due to their putative health benefits. The process of microbial fermentation converts food substrates into more nutritionally and functionally rich products, resulting in functional microorganisms (probiotics), substrates that enhance proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the gut (prebiotics), and bioactive components (biogenics). These functional ingredients act biologically in the gastrointestinal tract and have the ability to modify the gut microbiota, influence translocation of endotoxins and subsequent immune activation, and promote host nutrition. This narrative review explores the theoretical potential of the functional components present in fermented foods to alter gut physiology and to impact the biological mechanisms thought to underpin depression and anxiety. Pre-clinical studies indicate the benefits of fermented foods in relieving perturbed gut function and for animal models of depression and anxiety. However, in humans, the literature relating to the relevance of fermented food for treating or preventing depression and anxiety is sparse, heterogeneous and has significant limitations. This review identifies a critical research gap for further evaluation of fermented foods in the management of depression anxiety in humans.

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Authors
Aslam, H., Green, J., Jacka, F. N., Collier, F., Berk, M., Pasco, J., & Dawson, S. L.
Affiliations
  • Deakin University (AU)
  • Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
  • Barwon Health (AU)
Corresponding author
Dawson, Samantha L.
Venue
Nutritional Neuroscience
Published
2018-11-11
Volume
23
Issue
9
Pages
659-671
ISSN
  • 1028-415X (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-8305
OpenAlex
W2899576112
Cited by
179
References
142
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Nutritional Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
fermented foods, depression, anxiety, gut-brain axis, gut microbiota, probiotics, prebiotics, biogenic compounds, inflammation, intestinal permeability, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotransmitter dysregulation, endotoxin translocation, functional foods
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Fermented Foods, Animals, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Inflammation, Mental Health, Gastrointestinal Tract

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