Nutritional neuroscience is an emerging discipline shedding light on the fact that nutritional factors are interlaced with human cognition, behaviour, and emotions [1].
The intersection of mental health and nutrition is still an emerging field of study [2]. Professor Julia Rucklidge is the director of the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Group (University of Canterbury). With her group, she explored the impact of nutritional interventions not only on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity [3] but also on a wide range of disorders following a series of earthquakes, insomnia, and premenstrual syndrome [4]. The research was conducted on adults and children.
Nutrition can play a key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of depression [5]. Because of accumulating scientific evidence, nutritional supplementation and treatment are effective therapeutic interventions for depression [6]. Supplementation may be appropriate for controlling and to some extent, preventing depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders and anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), autism, and addiction [7].
Explaining the relation between nutrition and depression to the public
The number of US adults with MDD increased by 12.9%, from 15.5 to 17.5 million, between 2010 and 2018, whereas the proportion of adults with MDD aged 18-34 years increased from 34.6 to 47.5%. Over this period, the incremental economic burden of adults with MDD increased by 37.9% from $US236.6 billion to 326.2 billion (the year 2020 values) [8]. It is therefore essential to bring this new knowledge to the general public’s attention. Professor Rucklidge created a free educational series for the public in collaboration with Professor Bonnie Kaplan and in 2014 presented a TEDx talk that has had over 1.4 million views.
Can supplements be an alternative to antidepressants?
Most prescription drugs, including common antidepressants, lead to side effects [9,10]. This usually causes the patients to skip taking their medications. Such noncompliant patients are at a higher risk of committing suicide or being institutionalized.
Recent evidence suggests a link between low levels of serotonin and suicide [11, 12]. It is implicated that lower levels of this neurotransmitter can, in part, lead to an overall insensitivity to future consequences.
Supplements containing amino acids have also been found to reduce symptoms, as they are converted to neurotransmitters which in turn alleviate depression and other mental health problems [13].
A notable feature of the diets of patients suffering from mental disorders is the severity of deficiency in essential vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Studies have indicated that daily supplements of vital nutrients are often effective in reducing patients’ symptoms [14].
How many supplements, and how many fruits and vegetables do we need to eat to stay healthy?
Although further research needs to be carried out to determine the best-recommended doses of most nutritional supplements in the cases of certain nutrients, psychiatrists can recommend doses of dietary supplements based on previous and current efficacious studies and then adjust the doses based on the results obtained by closely observing the changes in the patient. Deficiencies in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are often associated with depression [15]. The diet is a clear key to producing the chemicals required by the brain [16]. The most common nutritional deficiencies seen in patients with mental disorders are omega–3 fatty acids, B vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are precursors to neurotransmitters.
Most diets are usually also lacking in fruits and vegetables, which further lead to mineral and vitamin deficiencies. The significance of various nutrients in mental health, with special relevance to depression, is becoming more evident day by day [17].
Nutritional therapy is effective and free of side effects; therefore it represents a valid option in the treatment and prevention of mental diseases that are very common today.
References:
[1] Ortega MA, Fraile-Martínez Ó, García-Montero C, Alvarez-Mon MA, Lahera G, Monserrat J, Llavero-Valero M, Mora F, Rodríguez-Jiménez R, Fernandez-Rojo S, Quintero J, Alvarez De Mon M. Nutrition, Epigenetics, and Major Depressive Disorder: Understanding the Connection. Front Nutr. 2022 May 18;9:867150. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.867150. PMID: 35662945; PMCID: PMC9158469.
[2] Sparling TM, Cheng B, Deeney M, Santoso MV, Pfeiffer E, Emerson JA, Amadi FM, Mitu K, Corvalan C, Verdeli H, Araya R, Kadiyala S. Global Mental Health and Nutrition: Moving Toward a Convergent Research Agenda. Front Public Health. 2021 Oct 8;9:722290. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.722290. PMID: 34722437; PMCID: PMC8548935.
[3] Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, Marx W, Rucklidge JJ, McIntyre RS, Akhondzadeh S, Benedetti F, Caneo C, Cramer H, Cribb L, de Manincor M, Dean O, Deslandes AC, Freeman MP, Gangadhar B, Harvey BH, Kasper S, Lake J, Lopresti A, Lu L, Metri NJ, Mischoulon D, Ng CH, Nishi D, Rahimi R, Seedat S, Sinclair J, Su KP, Zhang ZJ, Berk M. Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 21:1-32. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35311615.
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[5] Klimova B, Novotny M, Valis M. The Impact of Nutrition and Intestinal Microbiome on Elderly Depression-A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2020 Mar 7;12(3):710. doi: 10.3390/nu12030710. PMID: 32156003; PMCID: PMC7146624.
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[8] Greenberg PE, Fournier AA, Sisitsky T, Simes M, Berman R, Koenigsberg SH, Kessler RC. The Economic Burden of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2010 and 2018). Pharmacoeconomics. 2021 Jun;39(6):653-665. doi: 10.1007/s40273-021-01019-4. Epub 2021 May 5. PMID: 33950419; PMCID: PMC8097130.
[9] Oliva V, Lippi M, Paci R, Del Fabro L, Delvecchio G, Brambilla P, De Ronchi D, Fanelli G, Serretti A. Gastrointestinal side effects associated with antidepressant treatments in patients with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 13;109:110266. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110266. Epub 2021 Feb 5. PMID: 33549697.
[10] Anagha K, Shihabudheen P, Uvais NA. Side Effect Profiles of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Naturalistic Setting. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2021 Jul 29;23(4):20m02747. doi: 10.4088/PCC.20m02747. PMID: 34324797.
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[14] Noah L, Dye L, Bois De Fer B, Mazur A, Pickering G, Pouteau E. Effect of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation on mental health and quality of life in stressed healthy adults: Post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial. Stress Health. 2021 Dec;37(5):1000-1009. doi: 10.1002/smi.3051. Epub 2021 May 6. PMID: 33864354.
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Disclaimer
The information contained herein is not and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before making any changes to your diet, exercise or treatment, always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional.
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