Bidirectional Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health and Its Impact on the Health of Canadian Immigrants: An Integrative Review

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 8; p. 850
• Main Authors: Dubois, Naika, Giroux, Isabelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 08.04.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: Anxiety; Complications and side effects; Data analysis; Demographic aspects; Diet; Food and nutrition; Food security; Health aspects; Immigrants; Immigration; Malnutrition; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental illness; Natural & organic foods; Nutrition research; Obesity; Psychological aspects; Review; Risk factors; Software; Systematic review; Canada; United States > US; Canada; nutrition; mental health; health; diet; food insecurity; food; obesity; immigrants
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13080850

Background: Immigration is a key factor contributing to population growth in Canada, a trend that is expected to continue. Immigrants generally arrive with better health than the Canadian-born population, but this advantage often diminishes over time, partially due to dietary acculturation. Emerging evidence points to a bidirectional link between nutrition and mental health. Objective: To explore the bidirectional relationship between nutrition and mental health and its impact on the health of Canadian immigrants, with a specific focus on immigrants’ mental health and the healthy immigrant effect. Methods: For this integrative review, two comprehensive literature searches were conducted in the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to July 2024. The review adhered to Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative methodology, with the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool used to assess the quality of the studies. Results: A total of 42 and 34 scientific articles were included from the first and second literature searches, respectively. Four main themes emerged from the literature: (1) food insecurity and mental health, (2) obesity and mental health, (3) diet quality and mental health, and (4) the gut microbiome and mental health. These themes were explored in the context of Canadian immigrants’ health. Conclusions: The health of immigrants to Canada is likely shaped by complex, bidirectional interactions among various determinants of health, influencing both physical and mental well-being. As newcomers are expected to form an increasing proportion of the Canadian population, further research is needed to understand how the interaction between nutrition and mental health can help promote and safeguard the health of Canadian immigrants.