Does what you eat affect your mental health? This peer-reviewed systematic scoping review recently published in Frontiers in Nutrition, informed by research supported by the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, examines the relationship between anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and mental health outcomes in adults.

Mental health plays a central role in overall health and well-being, with growing recognition of modifiable lifestyle factors that may influence outcomes. One such factor is diet, particularly dietary patterns that affect systemic inflammation. Emerging evidence identifies inflammation as a key biological pathway linking diet and mental health, with pro-inflammatory diets associated with increased risk of depression. This has led to growing interest in whether anti-inflammatory dietary patterns may support mental health.

This peer-reviewed systematic scoping review presents a comprehensive synthesis of current scientific evidence examining the relationship between anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and mental health outcomes in adults. Drawing on 42 randomized controlled trials and 23 systematic evidence syntheses, this review evaluates whether dietary interventions designed to reduce inflammation are associated with improvements in mental health.

KEY FINDINGS

• Anti-inflammatory diets—particularly Mediterranean-style patterns—were associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and, in some cases, improvements in depression-related outcomes.
• Evidence for other mental health outcomes is promising but mixed. Findings related to anxiety, mood, stress, and quality of life were variable across studies, with some reporting significant improvements and others showing no effect. Depression, the most studied outcome, shows the strongest and most consistent evidence.
• Interventions appear most effective among individuals with existing mental health diagnoses or symptoms. Studies including participants with diagnosed mental health conditions or elevated symptom levels demonstrated more consistent improvements compared to those with physical ailments, chronic health conditions, or healthy adults.
• The Mediterranean diet was the most frequently investigated, and was the dietary intervention or pattern that was most consistently associated to reduced depression. While other dietary approaches (e.g., DASH, MIND, Nordic diets) also showed positive or mixed effects, the strongest body of evidence supports Mediterranean-style dietary patterns. 

INTERPRETATION OF EVIDENCE

The findings of this review support the role of inflammation as a biological pathway linking diet and mental health. Anti-inflammatory diets emphasize whole, minimally processed foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and healthy fats, which may help regulate inflammatory processes associated with mental health conditions.

Across both experimental and review-level evidence, results were generally aligned, strengthening confidence in the observed associations. However, variability in study design, intervention components, and outcome measures limits the ability to draw definitive causal conclusions.

LIMITATIONS

Several limitations should be considered when interpreting these findings:

• Heterogeneity in interventions and study designs, including multimodal approaches that combine diet with other lifestyle components
• Variability in outcome measures and populations, limiting comparability across studies
• Limited standardization of dietary protocols
• Insufficient long-term follow-up data
• Lack of formal quality assessment, consistent with the scoping review methodology

These factors highlight the need for more rigorous and standardized research to strengthen causal inference.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

The evidence synthesized in this peer-reviewed systematic scoping review suggests that anti-inflammatory dietary patterns can play a supportive role in mental health, particularly in the context of depression. Key implications include:

• Integration of dietary approaches into mental health research and care models
• Increased emphasis on whole-food dietary patterns that support inflammation regulation
• Need for well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized interventions and longer follow-up periods
• Further investigation into biological mechanisms, including inflammatory biomarkers

CONCLUSION

This peer-reviewed systematic scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence linking anti-inflammatory diets and mental health outcomes. The findings indicate that such dietary patterns are associated with improvements in depressive symptoms and may offer broader mental health benefits, although results for other outcomes remain less consistent.

Overall, the evidence supports continued investigation into diet as a modifiable factor in mental health and highlights its potential relevance as part of a broader, integrative approach to mental health care.

ABOUT THE JOHN W. BRICK MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

The John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation is dedicated to advancing research and integrating self-care approaches—such as exercise, nutrition, and mind-body practices—into treating mental illness and promoting mental well-being. To learn more about this foundation and its global impact, visit https://www.johnwbrickfoundation.org/