Depression is a common mental illness, though there are different types of depression. Some forms of depression can make you feel sad and withdrawn from life when you experience the loss of a loved one, for example. Other forms might make you more likely to engage in risky behaviors like alcohol or drug abuse.

Depression affects up to 20 percent of Americans. It is particularly common among teens and adolescents, whereas many as one in five young people suffers from depression. So, how gluten relates to depression symptoms?

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other cereal grains. People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten because it damages their intestinal lining. However, some people without celiac disease find that they feel better when they cut out gluten from their diet.

There are many theories for this occurrence. Some reports suggest that part of the effect is due to the fact that people with celiac disease are often malnourished because of their inability to properly absorb nutrients. Because malnutrition can cause mental health problems, some have suggested that it might be the malnutrition itself that triggers depressive symptoms. Other research suggests there may be a link between gluten and depression even in those without celiac disease.

Does Gluten Cause Your Depression?

A review of research published in Clinical Nutrition Insight suggests that gluten intake is associated with the development of depressive symptoms, even in those who do not have any form of diagnosed gluten intolerance. Researchers think there are several reasons why this might be so.   

One reason is that people who are sensitive to gluten have a lower intake of certain nutrients, including tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that the body uses to make serotonin, and serotonin is a neurotransmitter your brain needs for proper signaling between nerve cells. One class of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), works by increasing serotonin levels.   

According to other research, gluten might cause depression because it leads to inflammation in the body, and certain studies have found that people with depression often have high levels of inflammation throughout their bodies. According to ACSH, a pro-science consumer advocacy group for health and medicine, “If gluten causes inflammation, then gluten-free diets may alleviate depression.”

Another possibility is that people who cut gluten out of their diets often eat more healthily as a result. For example, those who remove gluten from their diet might eat less processed food and more fruits and vegetables.

The Effect of Gluten-Free Diets on Mental Health

According to a recent 2014 review published in the journal Comprehensive Psychology, removing gluten from the diet can have positive effects on mental health. For example, higher consumption of gluten is associated with better memory, but this link seems to fade when the consumption of gluten increases. Some studies have found a connection between celiac disease and depression or schizophrenia. However, it’s not clear whether gluten causes these mental health disorders or if they’re caused by something else and only diagnosed as celiac disease.

While more research is necessary to understand the effects of gluten on mental health in those without celiac disease, it seems that it could be a contributing factor. The best ways to treat anxiety are still through proper therapy, medication, or alternative treatments.