Diet-Microbiome-Brain Axis and Mental Health: Biological Mechanisms and Nutritional Implications

Diet is a primary and modifiable determinant of gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity, thereby shaping microbial-derived metabolites, immune and inflammatory signalling, neuroendocrine regulation, and neural communication with the central nervous system. Western dietary patterns, characterised by high intake of ultra-processed foods, saturated fats, and low dietary fibre, are consistently associated with gut dysbiosis, impaired intestinal barrier function, chronic low-grade inflammation, and increased risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative disorders.

This narrative review synthesises evidence from human observational studies, randomised controlled trials, animal models, and mechanistic investigations examining interactions among diet, gut microbiota, and mental health or neurobiological outcomes. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published up to December 2025.

The study highlights the therapeutic potential and limitations of dietary interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, and psychobiotics, and critically evaluates them. Also facilitates an improved understanding of diet-microbiome-brain interactions, which may help the development of personalised, nutrition-based strategies integrated into mental health prevention and clinical care.

These findings support diet-based, microbiome-informed strategies as scalable adjuncts in mental health prevention and care.