The importance of anti-inflammatory diet in depression: a literature review and recommendations

Introduction: The etiopathogenesis of depression consists of genetic, metabolic, hormonal and psychogenic factors. The pathological process increases the risk and worsens the course of the disorder in chronic low-grade inflammation. Nutrition affects the pro-/anti-inflammatory state, and an anti-inflammatory diet is a proposed form supporting the therapy of inflammatory diseases. The review aimed to determine the importance of an anti-inflammatory diet in supporting the treatment of mood disorders. Materials and methods: The available literature was reviewed by searching the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the following keywords: nutritional psychiatry, depression, anti-inflammatory diet from the inception to 10th February 2023. We characterized the anti-inflammatory diet, potential mechanisms of action, the epidemiological and intervention studies conducted so far focusing on this topic, as well as barriers to implementation and potentially harmful effects of its implementation. Results: Observational studies show a link between the anti-inflammatory potential of diet and a lower risk of developing mood disorders. The pro-inflammatory profile of the diet is associated with higher severity of depressive symptoms. On the other hand, an anti-inflammatory diet has a beneficial effect on the brain-gut axis and the intestinal microbiota, which are involved in the development of depressive disorders. Conclusions: It is necessary to increase clinical practitioners' and patients' knowledge of the impact of nutrition on mental health. Our team developed recommendations for an anti-inflammatory diet adapted to Polish conditions based on the guidelines. In the case of patients' barriers to implementation, encouraging partial implementation of the recommendations is advised.