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.
To address these gaps, the authors present a detailed roadmap for future research, outlining recommended study designs, priority topics and methodological approaches. These include greater use of exposure-based studies, incorporation of biological markers, improved standardisation, open science practices, and broader mental health outcome measures.
The research was supported by the Cognitive Health Committee of the Institute for the Advancement of Food & Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS).
Corresponding author Professor Hayley Young of Swansea University’s School of Psychology, said: “Overall, our findings suggest that public health and clinical strategies should prioritise whole-diet approaches over isolated supplementation when considering adolescent mental health. However, further high-quality research is needed to determine which dietary patterns are most effective and for whom.”
Read the paper A Recipe for Resilience: A Systematic Review of Diet and Adolescent Mental Health .
Nutrients
Systematic review
People
A Recipe for Resilience: A Systematic Review of Diet and Adolescent Mental Health
24-Nov-2025
Professor Hayley Young has served as a scientific advisor to the Cognitive Health Committee at the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) since 2020; financial support for this work was provided by IAFNS to Swansea University. In the last three years, Professor Young has also received research funding, in-kind support, and/or consultancy, travel, or speaker fees from Beneo GmbH, Mars-Wrigley, GSK, the European Fruit Juice Association, and Wileys. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.