Heat stress associated depression and allied affliction: Therapeutic roles of nutrition, micronutrients, and phytochemicals-a review

AI Summary

Chronic heat stress disrupts systemic homeostasis, hyperactivates the HPA axis, and increases oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter dysfunction causing depression.
Adequate macronutrients and micronutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium and iron support neurotransmission, antioxidant defence and energy balance.
Phytochemicals including polyphenols, flavonoids and carotenoids modulate the gut brain axis, attenuate neuroinflammation and regulate HPA function, offering non pharmacological resilience strategies.

AI Summary

Chronic heat stress induces neuroendocrine dysregulation via hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, alongside oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered neurotransmitter signaling, collectively elevating risks of mood disturbances, anxiety, cognitive decline, and sleep disorders.

Emerging evidence highlights nutrition as a key modulator of heat stress-induced neuropathology.

Basic summary

Int J Biometeorol. 2026 Jul 21;70(8):217. doi: 10.1007/s00484-026-03286-2.

ABSTRACT

Heat stress is a critical environmental factor disrupting systemic homeostasis and impairing mental health, with increasing evidence linking prolonged thermal exposure to depression and related neuropsychological disorders. Chronic heat stress induces neuroendocrine dysregulation via hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, alongside oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered neurotransmitter signaling, collectively elevating risks of mood disturbances, anxiety, cognitive decline, and sleep disorders. Emerging evidence highlights nutrition as a key modulator of heat stress-induced neuropathology. Adequate macronutrient intake supports energy balance and thermoregulation, while micronutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and iron are essential for neurotransmission, antioxidant defense, and immune function. Additionally, phytochemicals including polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and HPA-regulatory effects, partly through modulation of the gut-brain axis. This integrative approach offers promising non-pharmacological strategies to enhance resilience against heat-induced depression.

PMID:42479213 | DOI:10.1007/s00484-026-03286-2

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