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Effects of dietary flavonoids on mood and mental health: a systematic review
The intricate relationship between dietary habits and mental well-being has garnered significant attention within public health discourse. Specifically, flavonoids have emerged as a notable focus due to their potential to enhance mental health.
This review aimed to systematically investigate how dietary flavonoids affect mental health across various age groups in healthy individuals. Eligible studies included experimental trials involving participants of any age, sex, or ethnicity that examined supplementation with at least one flavonoid-rich food containing less than 15 mg of flavonoid constituents per 100 g/mL, either as whole food or lyophilized powder, and reported at least one mood outcome.
The literature was meticulously searched in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, with no date restrictions through October 2024. Methodological rigor and potential bias were assessed using the Evidence Analysis Manual Quality Criteria Checklist (QCC) provided by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library®.
A total of 38 studies met the inclusion criteria; among these, 13 investigated acute effects while 25 employed chronic study designs. The range of flavonoid-rich interventions analyzed was diverse, with cocoa serving as the predominant test food in nine studies. Notably, of the 13 acute studies, five reported positive outcomes involving wild blueberries (three studies), purple grape juice (one study), and orange juice (one study). Furthermore, 12 of the 25 chronic studies reported favorable results for mood enhancement linked to flavonoid supplementation from various sources, including cocoa, blueberries, cherries, peppermint, orange juice, walnuts, green tea, and mixed foods.
In conclusion, while the findings suggest a promising role of dietary flavonoid supplementation in improving mood and mental health, additional research is crucial. Future studies should focus on standardizing methodologies and dosages, as well as deeper exploration of the mechanistic pathways linking dietary flavonoids to mental health across the lifespan. [NPID: Flavonoids, mood, flavonoid, cocoa, blueberries, mental health]
Year: 2026
