Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

Methylation is a biochemical process involving adding a methyl group (one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms) to specific molecules, such as DNA, proteins, and neurotransmitters. This process regulates gene…

MGBA communication carriers consist of gut peptides, neuroactive chemicals, hormones, and signaling molecules released by various organs interlinked with the MGBA mechanism and participate in both top-down and bottom-up communication…

‘Cross-talk’ refers to the bi-directional communication between the gut, its microbiome, and the brain through intricate neuro-immuno-endocrine communication pathways. MGBA cross-talk facilitates many functions, such as digestion, stress regulation, immune…

Microbial diversity measures the variety of species in the gut microbiota. Higher diversity indicates a healthy microbiota because it contains a diverse range of species, each performing a different beneficial…

Microbial-derived-neurotransmitter synthesis is a process in which gut microbiota and its metabolites stimulate the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters from gut cells.

The terms "micro" and "biome" are derived from Ancient Greek, where "micro" means small and "biome" means life (Berg et al., 2020). The microbiome refers to microorganisms, their genes, and…

Microbiota refers to all of the microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, and fungi) found in a specific environment, and its diversity (i.e., variety) differs from person to person (Ursell et al.,…

The network of interconnected biological systems within the body that facilitate the bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain influences all elements of the Diet-mental health relationship (DMHR)…

Microbiota-derived metabolites are the byproducts of gut microbiota that act as signaling molecules and are released during the digestion and fermentation of non-absorbable and non-digestible dietary fibers, e.g., SCFAs.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is a complex bidirectional communication network linking the gut microbiota, gastrointestinal system, and central nervous system through neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways, significantly influencing physiological…