New studies have linked depression & other mental
problems to high-fat diets. This type of diet can also lead to brain
inflammation & affect human behavior as well. As it is, a diet high in fat
was tied to physical health problems including increased risk of heart attacks
& strokes. Gut micro-biome, comprising a complete mix of bacteria in the
human digestive system eventually get altered by consuming diet rich in fat. A
typical human body contains almost trillions of such microorganisms.
High-Fat
Diet Research on Mice
Mice fed on a normal diet were implanted with bacteria
from rodents fed with large doses of high-fat foods. Monitored over time, the
behavior & cognition of these animals were measured against a control group
who had received microbes from mice on a normal diet. Louisiana State
University researchers were trying to find out whether gut bacteria can alter
behavioral patterns even among animal who do not exhibit obesity concerns.
High-Fat
Diet Study
It was found that mice who had received implanted
bacteria from rodents on high-fat diet exhibited anxiety, repetitive behavior
& memory impairment. Signs of increased permeability & inflammation
were also recorded in their intestines. Brain inflammation was also observed in
mice with implanted bacteria which might have been responsible for behavioral
changes seen in them.
High-Fat
Diet Suggestions
This report suggests that high-fat diet impair
brain health in part, by disrupting the symbiotic relationship existing between
humans & microorganisms, occupying our gastrointestinal tracts. This study
goes on to suggest that such behavioral changes also occur in animals who are
not obese. Detailed mechanism caused by high-fat diet is still unknown &
future research can establish how bacteria in gut are able to alter behavior.
Backed
by Previous Research
Prior research had established a correlation between gut
bacteria & some psychological conditions. This new study enjoins supportive
evidence to earlier findings. Microbiome alterations are also previously tied
to body-ability in fighting illness & heal injuries. Depression & obesity are known to be largely influenced by genetics. People in depression
often tend to eat high-fat diets in order to feel better, while attached social
stigmas invariably increase feelings of depression.
Relation
Between High-Fat Diet & Depression
Another recent study found obese individuals to have a
20% elevated risk of getting into depression. Moreover, college-educated obese
subjects risk of depression rises to almost as high as 44 percent. This study
establishes an additional tie-up between these two conditions. This analysis of
role of gut bacteria & high-fat diet on mental health is profiled in
Biological Psychiatry journal.
