Sociological Assessment of Dietary Influences on Gut-Brain Pathways

Abstract

The gut-brain axis is a bi-directional pathway between the GIT and the central nervous system, in which diet plays an essential role as a regulatory factor. The present study offers an sociological overview of the dietary features involved in gut brain axis elucidating how social organisation, culture, economy and food environment effect on diet patterns, composition o gut microbiota and consequent mental health related responses. A mixed methods design was used, informed by the Social Determinants of Health framework and biopychosocial Model. Methods We conducted a survey on 400 adults capturing socio-economic stratification in three Nigerian states, followed by qualitative interviews of 40 participants and stool sample analysis from 100 randomly selected individuals to assess gut microbiota composition. Results indicated robust associations between dietary patterns and mental health status. Dietary patterns associated with lower anxiety and depression were plant based, wholefoods, high carbohydrate intake, and dietary fiber. The top three predictors of diet quality and mental health were socioeconomic status, food insecurity and cultural food practices. The gut microbiota analysis was found to be less diverse in individuals consuming a Western style processed diet than in those with traditional unprocessed diets. Explicit consideration of the social contexts in which eating is situated is essential for understanding diet gut brain pathways, the research confirms. Methods A series of studies were conducted to assess the relationships between dietary quality and anxiety: Air quality measures using independent samples t tests and ANOVA indicated that responsibility margin, quartile 4 was negatively predicted by degree of classification (t= 5.23) p <. 1], and depression (t = −4.87, p <. and stress (negative correlation, t = -4.56, p <. 001), and gut microbiota diversity was significantly associated with mental health outcomes (F = 6.78, p =. 001). Our recommendations include culturally pertinent nutrition education and policy efforts to improve food affordability and availability price, provision of nutrition counseling as part of psychosocial mental health counesling care, and community based provocations dealing with structural social determinantslyry dukption dietary behavior.