Diet, Nutrition and Opioid Addiction

Abstract

Adequate nutrition and balanced diet are essential for optimum physical and psychological health. This is especially important in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUDs) who typically show mild to moderate micronutrient deficiencies, including iron and B-complex vitamins. Such deficiencies can alter synaptic plasticity, particularly of the mesolimbic dopamine (ML-DA) pathways responsible for control of feeding and processing of emotions, rewards, and cognition, in these individuals. Addiction to food strongly resembles addiction to drugs of abuse. OUDs tend to prefer high salt, fat, and sugar diets, which activate the ML-DA causing euphorigenic effects. Concurrently, the malnutrition OUDs experience encourages cravings and contribute to their drug seeking. To remedy nutritional deficiencies and brain abnormalities in OUDs, we propose that multiple strategies be incorporated into their treatment regimens that will aid individuals to overcome opioid use disorder and decrease risk for relapse in those who have already recovered.