06 April 2015 - Guardian - Depression: Malnutrition Plays a Surprising Role

Doing so would likely reveal that in many instances, “having the blues” is not an illness, but rather, a symptom of malnutrition. Knowledge of individual vitamin profiles will aid patients in becoming their own healthcare advocate. Therefore, depressed patients should be evaluated and monitored for several deficiencies.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are critical to brain function, affect both memory and mood. Omega-3 is not produced in the body and must be obtained through diet or supplementation. Iron deficiency anemia frequently manifests as fatigue and mood disorders. Moreover, the condition is most prevalent in women due to blood loss through menstruation, affecting as many as 20 percent of women. Recent studies indicate an alarming rate of zinc deficiency in depressed patients, providing evidence of a long suspected link between the two.

Populations living in areas with long, dark winters are especially vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency, which may result in profound fatigue, depression, and irritability, as well as probable links to dementia and autism. B 12 deficiency is a well-known cause of fatigue, depression, and dementia. Patients may be symptomatic even with levels in the low-normal range, and physicians should consider supplementation in these individuals.

Folate also has strong links to mood disorders, which is often used concurrently or in-lieu of, an antidepressant. In studies, high folate levels resulted in a 44 percent response rate to antidepressants, compared to 7 percent in those who were deficient. Folate supplementation is recommended for all women of childbearing age, due to its crucial role in fetal development.

Iodine deficiency is a catalyst for thyroid malfunction. The thyroid regulates many bodily systems including metabolism, growth, body temperature, hormones, immune function, energy, and brain function. A faulty or low functioning thyroid often results in depression, inability to concentrate, and memory problems.

Amino acids are considered the building blocks of protein and synthesize the neurotransmitters critical to mental health, which include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are what controls a person’s mood and an imbalance could result in depression and other mental illness.

While it is recognized that malnutrition plays a surprising role in depression, antidepressant therapy is certainly indicated in some patients. However, it should only be initiated after a thorough physical examination, complete blood panel, and vitamin profile analysis of a patient is performed. Addressing nutritional concerns may help alleviate symptoms of mood disorders in many individuals.