Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42602095›Full record

ReviewAnnals of neurosciences2026

Neuroinflammation, HPA Axis Dysregulation, Cytokine Activity and Nutritional Modulation in Depression: A PRISMA-compliant Systematic Review.

Saranya Ts, Şebnem Yücel, Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Recep Yücel, Sumitra Dutta

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Annals of neurosciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Saranya TsDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7240-4782
Şebnem YücelSelçuk University, Alaeddin Keykubat Campus, Konya, Türkiye.
Sandeep Kumar GuptaMohan Babu University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2670-2858
Recep YücelKırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Türkiye.
Sumitra DuttaAmity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Depression is increasingly recognized as a multisystem disorder involving interconnected neuroinflammatory, neuroendocrine, metabolic and gut-brain mechanisms rather than isolated neurotransmitter abnormalities. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of cytokine activity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and gut microbiota collectively contribute to depressive pathophysiology. This review aimed to synthesise current evidence on these biological interactions and evaluate the potential role of nutritional modulation in influencing these pathways. Summary: A PRISMA-informed systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Thirty-five eligible studies were included. The evidence demonstrates a self-reinforcing biological network in which chronic stress activates the HPA axis, leading to glucocorticoid receptor resistance, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and gut microbiota dysbiosis. These interconnected mechanisms contribute to depressive symptoms and may perpetuate disease progression. Nutritional interventions, including Mediterranean dietary patterns, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibre, probiotics, polyphenols and selected micronutrients, consistently showed potential to reduce inflammation, regulate HPA axis activity, improve gut microbial balance and mitigate oxidative stress. Key Message: Depression should be conceptualised as a complex multisystem disorder driven by dynamic interactions among immune, endocrine, metabolic and microbiota-related pathways. Nutritional modulation represents a promising adjunctive strategy capable of targeting these interconnected biological mechanisms. Future longitudinal and interventional studies integrating multi-omics approaches are needed to validate causal pathways and develop personalised nutrition-based interventions for depression.

Indexed as

cytokinesDepressiondietary factorsfeedback loophypothalamic–pituitary–adrenalneuroinflammationnutrition

Identifiers

PMID42602095
PMCPMC13473203

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.