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The gut microbiota dietary index reveals a modifiable diet–depression association varying by BMI and possibly linked to inflammation: a hypothesis-generating modified diet for future intervention research
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DOI：10.1038/s41398-026-04346-2.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
In the context of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, diet represents a critical yet still debated component of translational psychiatry. However, population-based evidence linking microbiota-supportive dietary patterns to depressive symptoms remains limited. This research leverages the Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM) to examine the associations between a gut-microbiota-friendly diet and depression, providing a theoretical framework for future research on practical applications. Using data from 28,884 adults, this cross-sectional study evaluated the association between DI-GM and PHQ-9 using survey-compatible descriptive and conventional regression analyses, ordinary-weighted generalized additive models (GAMs), XGBoost with SHAP for exploratory feature ranking, and an exploratory mediation-type analysis of systemic inflammation. Participants with depression had lower DI-GM scores than those without depression. Model-based analyses suggested an inverse predicted pattern between DI-GM and PHQ-9, especially with the interaction GAM indicating significant BMI-related heterogeneity (a more pronounced inverse association at higher BMI). XGBoost with SHAP analyses identified fiber, refined grains, percent energy from fat and whole grains as dietary features with relatively larger contributions to model predictions. Exploratory mediation-type analysis suggested that inflammation may partially explain the DI-GM–PHQ-9 association. However, a high DI-GM diet lacks depression-related nutrients like vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc. Based on these hypothesis-generating findings, we propose a conceptual framework for a Modified Gut Microbiota-Friendly Diet (MGFD) with high DI-GM score, caloric control, and targeted nutrient supplementation, requiring validation via prospective cohorts, randomized trials, and gut microbiome/metabolomic studies.
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