Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review.
Study Goal
The researchers sought to identify associations between dietary factors, including High-Fat Diet, and anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence.
Results Summary
The study found an association between higher levels of anxiety and High-Fat Diet, alongside other unhealthy dietary patterns. Results were limited by a large percentage of animal and observational studies, with few high-quality intervention studies involving participants with anxiety disorders.
Population
General population and animal models (specific human population with anxiety disorders was limited to 10% of intervention studies).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
fruits and vegetables | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #1 |
omega-3 fatty acids | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #2 |
"healthy" dietary patterns | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #3 |
caloric restriction | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #4 |
breakfast consumption | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #5 |
ketogenic diet | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #6 |
broad-spectrum micronutrient supplementation | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #7 |
zinc | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #8 |
magnesium | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #9 |
selenium | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #10 |
probiotics | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #11 |
a range of phytochemicals | decrease | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | less anxiety | #12 |
high-fat diet | increase | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | higher levels of anxiety | #13 |
inadequate tryptophan | increase | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | higher levels of anxiety | #14 |
inadequate dietary protein | increase | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | higher levels of anxiety | #15 |
high intake of sugar | increase | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | higher levels of anxiety | #16 |
high intake of refined carbohydrates | increase | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | higher levels of anxiety | #17 |
"unhealthy" dietary patterns | increase | anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence | - | - | higher levels of anxiety | #18 |
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders. There is mounting evidence demonstrating the importance of nutrition in the development and progression of mental disorders such as depression; however, less is known about the role of nutrition in anxiety disorders. This scoping review sought to systematically map the existing literature on anxiety disorders and nutrition in order to identify associations between dietary factors and anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence as well as identify gaps and opportunities for further research. The review followed established methodological approaches for scoping reviews. Due to the large volume of results, an online program (Abstrackr) with artificial intelligence features was used. Studies reporting an association between a dietary constituent and anxiety symptoms or disorders were counted and presented in figures. A total of 55,914 unique results were identified. After a full-text review, 1541 articles met criteria for inclusion. Analysis revealed an association between less anxiety and more fruits and vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, "healthy" dietary patterns, caloric restriction, breakfast consumption, ketogenic diet, broad-spectrum micronutrient supplementation, zinc, magnesium and selenium, probiotics, and a range of phytochemicals. Analysis revealed an association between higher levels of anxiety and high-fat diet, inadequate tryptophan and dietary protein, high intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, and "unhealthy" dietary patterns. Results are limited by a large percentage of animal and observational studies. Only 10% of intervention studies involved participants with anxiety disorders, limiting the applicability of the findings. High quality intervention studies involving participants with anxiety disorders are warranted.