Cited by 100Gut microbiota and healthNutritional Studies and DietFood composition and properties

Going with the grain: Fiber, cognition, and the microbiota-gut-brain-axis

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Berding, Kirsten, Carbia, Carina, Cryan, John F·2021·Experimental Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Healthy dietary intake has been acknowledged for decades as one of the main contributors to health. More recently, the field of nutritional psychiatry has progressed our understanding regarding the importance of nutrition in supporting mental health and cognitive function. Thereby, individual nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols, have been recognized to be key drivers in this relationship. With the progress in appreciating the influence of dietary fiber on health, increasingly research is focusing on deciphering its role in brain processes. However, while the importance of dietary fiber in gastrointestinal and metabolic health is well established, leading to the development of associated health claims, the evidence is not conclusive enough to support similar claims regarding cognitive function. Albeit the increasing knowledge of the impact of dietary fiber on mental health, only a few human studies have begun to shed light onto the underexplored connection between dietary fiber and cognition. Moreover, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a key conduit for the effects of nutrition on the brain, especially fibers, that are acted on by specific bacteria to produce a variety of health-promoting metabolites. These metabolites (including short chain fatty acids) as well as the vagus nerve, the immune system, gut hormones, or the kynurenine pathway have been proposed as underlying mechanisms of the microbiota-brain crosstalk. In this minireview, we summarize the evidence available from human studies on the association between dietary fiber intake and cognitive function. We provide an overview of potential underlying mechanisms and discuss remaining questions that need to be answered in future studies. While this field is moving at a fast pace and holds promise for future important discoveries, especially data from human cohorts are required to further our understanding and drive the development of public health recommendations regarding dietary fiber in brain health.

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  1. [23]Alimentarius C. Guidelines on nutrition labelling CAC/GL 2-1985 as last amended 2010 . Joint FAO/WHO food standards programme, secretariat of the codex alimentarius commission. Rome: FAO, 2010 [Google Scholar]
  2. [37]EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products N, Allergies. Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for carbohydrates and dietary fibre. EFSA J 2010; 8:1462 [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Berding, K., Carbia, C., & Cryan, J. F.
Affiliations
University College Cork (IE)
Corresponding author
Cryan, John F
Venue
Experimental Biology and Medicine
Published
2021-02-28
Volume
246
Issue
7
Pages
796-811
ISSN
  • 0071-3384 (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-3702
  • 1535-3699
OpenAlex
W3133846109
Cited by
100
References
163
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 6
FWCI
4.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Experimental Biology and Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Saks-Kavanaugh Foundation
  • Science Foundation Ireland (12/RC/2273 P2)
  • Irish Research Council (GOIPD/2019/33)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
Keywords
dietary fiber, cognitive function, microbiota-gut-brain axis, gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, kynurenine pathway, vagus nerve, gastrointestinal hormones, immune system, mental health, nutritional psychiatry, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, brain health
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Brain, Cognition, Dietary Fiber, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Humans, Microbiota

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