In-depth Analysis of Potential Mechanisms by which Adolescent Dietary Intake Influences Depression through Vitamin and Cortisol Levels

In recent years, the prevalence of depression among adolescents has shown an upward trend, with its pathogenesis involving complex mechanisms encompassing neuroendocrine, nutritional, and metabolic factors. This paper systematically reviews the role of vitamin D in adolescent depression, focusing on its interaction with cortisol levels, supplemented by evidence regarding vitamins B and C. It explores whether dietary intake indirectly influences the onset and progression of depression by regulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. By synthesizing existing observational and interventional studies, this paper proposes a multidimensional theoretical framework which would offer some basic theory for the first stage prevention and diet of teenage depression.