A study led by researchers at Swansea University suggests that dietary patterns may play a role in adolescent mental health and sets out a detailed research roadmap to better understand this relationship.
The review, published in the journal Nutrients, examined evidence from 19 studies exploring links between diet and mental health outcomes in adolescents. Across the studies, healthier overall dietary patterns were often associated with fewer depressive symptoms, while poorer diet quality was linked to greater psychological distress.
The researchers analysed six randomised controlled trials and 13 prospective cohort studies. They found that evidence supporting individual nutrient supplementation was mixed, with emerging but inconsistent findings that vitamin D supplementation may reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents. In contrast, whole-diet patterns and diet quality indices showed more consistent associations with favourable mental health outcomes.
The authors note that adolescence represents a critical period for brain development and mental health, offering opportunities for prevention and early intervention. Diet, they highlight, is a modifiable and scalable factor embedded in daily life. However, they caution that the current evidence base remains inconsistent and is influenced by demographic factors such as socioeconomic status and sex.
The review aimed to strengthen the real-world relevance of existing research by focusing beyond clinic-defined groups, with the goal of informing both clinical practice and public health policy.
The study also identifies significant gaps in the current literature. Most research to date has focused on depression, leaving outcomes such as anxiety, stress, externalising behaviours, self-esteem and aggression comparatively underexplored.
Read the paper A Recipe for Resilience: A Systematic Review of Diet and Adolescent Mental Health.
Journal
Nutrients
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