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Nutritional medicine as mainstream in psychiatry

  • Jerome Sarris
  • , Alan C. Logan
  • , Tasnime N. Akbaraly
  • , G. Paul Amminger
  • , Vicent Balanzá-Martínez
  • , Marlene P. Freeman
  • , Joseph Hibbeln
  • , Yutaka Matsuoka
  • , David Mischoulon
  • , Tetsuya Mizoue
  • , Akiko Nanri
  • , Daisuke Nishi
  • , Drew Ramsey
  • , Julia J. Rucklidge
  • , Almudena Sanchez-Villegas
  • , Andrew Scholey
  • , Kuan Pin Su
  • , Felice N. Jacka
  • , on behalf of The International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research

Research output: Contribution to journalComment / DebateOtherpeer-review

Abstract

Psychiatry is at an important juncture, with the current pharmacologically focused model having achieved modest benefits in addressing the burden of poor mental health worldwide. Although the determinants of mental health are complex, the emerging and compelling evidence for nutrition as a crucial factor in the high prevalence and incidence of mental disorders suggests that diet is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. Evidence is steadily growing for the relation between dietary quality (and potential nutritional deficiencies) and mental health, and for the select use of nutrient-based supplements to address deficiencies, or as monotherapies or augmentation therapies. We present a viewpoint from an international collaboration of academics (members of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research), in which we provide a context and overview of the current evidence in this emerging field of research, and discuss the future direction. We advocate recognition of diet and nutrition as central determinants of both physical and mental health.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)271-274
Number of pages4
JournalThe Lancet Psychiatry
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2015
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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