eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2019-01-24 7 1 41 50 10.12691/jfnr-7-1-6 JFNR2019716 article Sahithi Madireddy 1 Samskruthi Madireddy madireddy.sahithi@gmail.com 1 353 Tanaka Drive, San Jose, CA 95131, USA A healthy and diverse gut microbiota is essential for host health. Recent studies indicate that the gut microbiota play a significant role in signaling the gut-brain axis, and thereby having a significant impact on the brain, which is a part of the central nervous system (CNS). As the concept of the gut-brain-axis is now relatively well-established, attention has turned to the effects of diets on the gut-brain-axis. While functions of the gut-brain-axis have been studied, the potential impact of diet on brain health, as part of the gut-brain-axis, remains underexplored. Indeed, a limited body of evidence supports a role for diet, prebiotics, and probiotics in influencing the gut-brain-axis. This review focuses on nutrients and bio-active substances such as iron, fiber, short chain fatty acids, vitamins, polyphenols, zinc, and probiotics and their protective effects on brain health. Understanding the influence of diet on the gut-brain-axis will shed light on the conditions wherein brain health can be maintained by altering diet. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/7/1/6/jfnr-7-1-6.pdf microbiota gut-brain axis nutrition diet brain fatty acids