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

Authors

Taha Majid Mahmood Sheikh, Abdul Malik Tareen, Muhammad Asif Arain

Published in

International journal of biometeorology. Volume 70. Issue 8. Jul 21, 2026. Epub Jul 21, 2026.

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
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Jul 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.