What’s New in Nutrition Research?
NUTRITION as metabolic treatment for
A N XI E TY
I
n a “Perspectives” article by Norwitz and Naidoo, published this past February (2021) in the peerreviewed journal, Frontiers in Psychiatry,1 researchers explored published research supporting nutrition as a means to address underlying metabolic pathologies associated with mental illness—in particular, anxiety. We have summarized the article for our readers and present here what we feel are the key points of the article. Role of the gut microbiome in managing anxiety. In their article, “Nutrition as Metabolic Treatment for Anxiety,” the authors first emphasized the importance of the gut microbiome in our overall health. The gut microbiome comprises trillions of microorganisms that live in
the gastrointestinal tract forming little ecosystems that affect various bodily functions. For example, according to these researchers, gut peptides, which are chemical messengers that regulate gastrointestinal functioning, are thought to modulate anxiety by signaling the amygdala—the part of the brain that activates the fear response—to suppress the threat response once the perceived danger has passed. The release of these gut peptides is regulated by short chain fatty acids, which are produced by certain gut bacteria, and it has been shown that people with anxiety have less of this type of gut bacteria. Nutritional interventions for anxiety. In this article, the authors suggest specific
nutritional interventions that might improve symptoms of anxiety by supporting gut microbiome health. These proposed interventions are 1) avoiding artificial sweeteners, 2) avoiding gluten, 3) including omega-3 fatty acids, 4) including turmeric, 5) supplementing with vitamin D, and 6) following a ketogenic diet. The authors discuss research in support of their proposed interventions, and are careful to note any limitations the cited studies might have. Here we’ve summarized the authors’ discussion and review of these proposed interventions. 1. Avoiding artificial sweeteners. The authors describe research that has shown an association between artificial sweeteners, metabolic dysfunction, and the development of
Nutrition Health Review • March–April 2021 • Volume 133 11
