Effect of Fiber Consumption on Cortisol Levels and HPA Axis in Pregnancy

Stress, which develops as an adaptation to the fight-or-flight response during the perception
of a noxious stimulus, stimulates a range of physiological responses that may be harmful
under certain conditions (including the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems). Among
these responses, hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is one of the most
common neurobiological changes in depressed patients. Depression, especially during
pregnancy, is an insidious public health problem that jeopardizes mental health. In cases
where it is not taken seriously, cases leading to suicide may be encountered. Negative
consequences of prenatal depression are seen not only in the mother but also in the child in
the future. Pregnancy-related depression is usually due to multiple causes and is associated
with many different physiological factors. Physiological shifts that occur during pregnancy
cause changes in the maternal stress protection mechanism such as hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis dysregulation and excessive secretion of cortisol. Excessive cortisol secretion,
which is associated with the body's response to stress, is associated with depressive
symptoms during pregnancy. Recent studies emphasize that certain dietary factors,
especially dietary fibers, weaken the stress hormone. Dietary fiber taken into the body is
digested by intestinal bacteria and ensures the release of short-chain fatty acids. These
metabolites are thought to affect many different neurological functions, including the