Wang CB, Tang J, Cao Y. Feeding the mood: The role of macronutrients in depression prevention and treatment. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(8): 107435 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i8.107435]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yao Cao, Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Taikang Hospital, No. 881 Xianghe 1 Street, Huayang Street, Chengdu 651000, Sichuan Province, China. caoyao@scu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Psychiatry
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Psychiatry. Aug 19, 2025; 15(8): 107435 Published online Aug 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i8.107435
Feeding the mood: The role of macronutrients in depression prevention and treatment
Chao-Ban Wang, Jie Tang, Yao Cao
Chao-Ban Wang, Jie Tang, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
Yao Cao, Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Taikang Hospital, Chengdu 651000, Sichuan Province, China
Co-first authors: Chao-Ban Wang and Jie Tang.
Author contributions: Wang CB and Tang J contributed equally to this study as co-first authors; Cao Y and Tang J were responsible for manuscript writing; Wang CB was responsible for study conception and design and administrative support.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yao Cao, Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Taikang Hospital, No. 881 Xianghe 1 Street, Huayang Street, Chengdu 651000, Sichuan Province, China. caoyao@scu.edu.cn
Received: March 26, 2025 Revised: April 22, 2025 Accepted: June 6, 2025 Published online: August 19, 2025 Processing time: 138 Days and 5.6 Hours
Abstract
Depression is a complex mental health disorder that significantly impairs quality of life and affects millions globally. Emerging evidence underscores a potential link between macronutrient imbalances and depression onset or progression. This review explores how macronutrients—carbohydrates, fats, and proteins—may influence depressive symptoms. For example, excessive sugar consumption is associated with heightened depressive risk, likely due to its effects on insulin resistance and inflammation. Conversely, sufficient protein intake appears to mitigate depression risk, with studies reporting that a 10% increase in caloric intake from protein correlates with a significant reduction in depression prevalence. However, diets rich in saturated fats and proteins may slightly elevate depressive risk. This review emphasizes the critical importance of dietary balance in promoting mental health. Although some studies have suggested that maintaining specific macronutrient ratios may be associated with a reduced risk of depression, given the diversity of evidence and contradictory findings among studies, further research is needed to clarify the exact effects. Future research should aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations, providing a robust foundation for dietary interventions in the prevention and treatment of depression.
Core Tip: Depression is a global health problem that seriously affects quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that macronutrient imbalance may be closely related to the occurrence and development of depression. This review examines how carbohydrates, fats, and proteins affect depressive symptoms by regulating physiological processes such as neurotransmitter activity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Studies have found that patients with depression often present with metabolic changes and that appropriate protein intake can reduce the risk of depression. Future studies are needed to further reveal the molecular mechanisms of these associations and provide a scientific basis for dietary intervention.
