Shingo Sakata, Makiko Norimatsu and Yuji Aoki*

Department of Health Science, Matsumoto University Graduate School, Japan

*Corresponding Author: Yuji Aoki, Department of Health Science, Matsumoto University Graduate School, Japan.

Received: August 18, 2025; Published: September 09, 2025

Abstract

The global incidence of mental health disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, continues to rise, with etiologies involving both genetic and environmental risk factors. This mini-review examines dietary nutrients as an environmental risk factor for mental health disorders, with a focus on recent trends in Japan. National survey data indicate an increasing prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Japan, accompanied by dietary shifts toward a more Westernized pattern. These changes, particularly among younger generations, include decreased intake of folate, a key nutrient for one-carbon metabolism involved in epigenetics and neurotransmitter, alongside increased consumption of meat and reduced intake of fish, vegetables, and fruits. Despite high awareness of the importance of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects, supplementation rates among pregnant Japanese women remain low compared with other countries. Given the rising trends in mental health disorders, greater attention should be paid to the role of parental (both maternal and paternal) preconception nutrition in promoting offspring mental health.

Keywords: Mental Health Disorders; Folate; One-Carbon Metabolism; Epigenetics; Parental Preconception Nutrition

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Citation

Citation: Yuji Aoki., et al. “Dietary Nutrients May Contribute to Increasing Mental Health Disorders in Japan".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 9.10 (2025): 18-32.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Yuji Aoki., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.