Nutritional neuroscienceJul 10, 2018

How Diet and Gut Bacteria May Relate to Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 30, 2026

Abstract

High-quality diets and specific dietary fibers may improve mood and are associated with beneficial effects on mental health.

Mood improvement is linked to enhanced diet quality.
Consumption of ≥ 5 g/day of fructooligosaccharide and galactooligosaccharide is associated with reduced anxiety and depression.
Bifidobacteria levels were enriched in individuals consuming ≥ 5 g/day of certain dietary fibers.
Probiotic intake improved psychological or biological measures of mood disorders in predisposed individuals.
Probiotics may suppress biological markers of stress in healthy individuals, depending on the strain.
Habitual diets rich in fiber and omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids could be associated with a lower risk of mood disorder symptoms.

Simplified

Pre-clinical evidence suggests that the gastrointestinal microbiota contributes to mood and behavior disorders. Among humans, diet quality and patterns, which also impact the gastrointestinal microbiota, have been linked to depression, anxiety, and stress. This review summarizes findings from clinical studies using dietary intervention to improve depression, anxiety, or stress and the role the gastrointestinal microbiota may have in these disorders.A literature search was conducted using the keywords microbiome, microbiota, depression, anxiety, stress, diet, dietary pattern, diet quality, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and mood.Mood was improved by enhancing diet quality. Fructooligosaccharide and galactooligosaccharide improved anxiety and depression in participants consuming ≥ 5 g/day. Additionally, bifidobacteria were enriched in subjects consuming ≥ 5 g/day. Probiotic consumption improved psychological or biological measures of depression, anxiety, or stress in individuals predisposed to a mood disorder. Probiotics suppressed biological markers of stress in healthy individuals in a strain-dependent manner.High-quality diets, prebiotics, and probiotics may beneficially affect mood. Habitual diets rich in dietary fiber and omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids may be linked to reduced risk of developing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; however, additional studies are necessary. Certain probiotics may enhance mood, but their influence on the gastrointestinal microbiota requires further investigation. Objective: Methods: Results: Discussion:

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

How Diet and Gut Bacteria May Relate to Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the gut-brain axis brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the gut-brain axis brief