Muscaritoli Maurizio
Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Front Nutr. 2021 Mar 8;8:656290. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.656290. eCollection 2021.
A good nutritional status is important for maintaining normal body function and preventing or mitigating the dysfunction induced by internal or external factors. Nutritional deficiencies often result in impaired function, and, conversely, intakes at recommended levels can resume or further enhance body functions. An increasing number of studies are revealing that diet and nutrition are critical not only for physiology and body composition, but also have significant effects on mood and mental well-being. In particular, Western dietary habits have been the object of several research studies focusing on the relationship between nutrition and mental health. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the relationship between the intake of specific micro- and macronutrients, including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, alpha-tocopherol, magnesium and folic acid, and mental health, with particular reference to their beneficial effect on stress, sleep disorders, anxiety, mild cognitive impairment, as well as on neuropsychiatric disorders, all significantly affecting the quality of life of an increasing number of people. Overall data support a positive role for the nutrients mentioned above in the preservation of normal brain function and mental well-being, also through the control of neuroinflammation, and encourage their integration in a well-balanced and varied diet, accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. This strategy is of particular importance when considering the global human aging and that the brain suffers significantly from the life-long impact of stress factors.
良好的营养状况对于维持身体正常功能以及预防或减轻由内部或外部因素引起的功能障碍至关重要。营养缺乏往往会导致功能受损，相反，摄入推荐水平的营养物质可以恢复或进一步增强身体功能。越来越多的研究表明，饮食和营养不仅对生理和身体组成至关重要，而且对情绪和心理健康也有显著影响。特别是，西方饮食习惯一直是几项关注营养与心理健康关系的研究对象。本综述旨在总结当前关于特定微量和宏量营养素（包括二十碳五烯酸、二十二碳六烯酸、α-生育酚、镁和叶酸）的摄入与心理健康之间关系的知识，特别提及它们对应激、睡眠障碍、焦虑、轻度认知障碍以及神经精神疾病的有益作用，这些都对越来越多人的生活质量产生显著影响。总体数据支持上述营养素在维持正常脑功能和心理健康方面的积极作用，这也通过控制神经炎症来实现，并鼓励将它们纳入均衡多样的饮食中，同时辅以健康的生活方式。考虑到全球人口老龄化以及大脑受到压力因素终身影响的情况，这一策略尤为重要。
