Nutrition, Epigenetics, and Major Depressive Disorder: Understanding the Connection.

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain. Cancer Registry and Pathology Department, Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain. Psychiatry Service, Center for Biomedical Research in the Mental Health Network, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Department of Legal Medicine and Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. Institute for Health Research 12 de Octubre Hospital, (Imas 12)/CIBERSAM (Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Mental Health), Madrid, Spain. Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, Oncology Service an Internal Medicine, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, (CIBEREHD), Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

Frontiers in nutrition. 2022;:867150
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Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex, multifactorial disorder of rising prevalence and incidence worldwide. Nearly, 280 million of people suffer from this leading cause of disability in the world. Moreover, patients with this condition are frequently co-affected by essential nutrient deficiency. The typical scene with stress and hustle in developed countries tends to be accompanied by eating disorders implying overnutrition from high-carbohydrates and high-fat diets with low micronutrients intake. In fact, currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drawn more attention to this underdiagnosed condition, besides the importance of the nutritional status in shaping immunomodulation, in which minerals, vitamins, or omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) play an important role. The awareness of nutritional assessment is greater and greater in the patients with depression since antidepressant treatments have such a significant probability of failing. As diet is considered a crucial environmental factor, underlying epigenetic mechanisms that experience an adaptation or consequence on their signaling and expression mechanisms are reviewed. In this study, we included metabolic changes derived from an impairment in cellular processes due to lacking some essential nutrients in diet and therefore in the organism. Finally, aspects related to nutritional interventions and recommendations are also addressed.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Review

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