Diet and the gut microbiota-immune axis in the context of perinatal mental health: Protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Background: Physiological and psychosocial changes experienced by women during the perinatal period may put them at risk for postpartum mental health disturbances. Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary patterns may influence mental health through the modulation of the gut microbiota and its effects on host immune activity. Thus, targeting the gut microbiota via dietary intake could serve as both a preventative and therapeutic strategy in improving perinatal mental health.