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Nutritional Deficiencies

Can a deficiency of any single nutrient can alter brain function and lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders? The answer is yes, according to the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Although nutritional deficiencies are not common among Americans, there are enough cases to warrant discussion. Below is a summary of some of the more frequent nutritional deficiencies found in some patients.

Vitamin B2 deficiency - this deficiency is rare but it can be caused by certain antidepressant drugs called tricyclics. This vitamin deficiency can worsen a current episode of depression.

Vitamin B6 deficiency - this deficiency is frequently found in people currently experiencing depression. And it is frequently found in women who are taking birth control pills or estrogen in other forms.

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) deficiency - this deficiency is the most common in the vitamin category. Statistics have demonstrated that as many as 35% of depressed patients have folic acid deficiencies. Interestingly, the most common symptom of folic acid deficiency is depression. For more information about folic acid, please click the link above.

Vitamin B12 deficiency - this vitamin works in combination with folic acid in a number of biochemical functions. Vitamin B12 deficiency becomes more common in people over the age of 50 and the rates can be as high as 30% - 40% for people over the age of 70. Proper additions of folic acid and B12 in the diet often produce excellent results in people who are depressed because of these deficiencies.

Based on recent studies, researchers have theorized that a shortage of B12 can lead to a buildup of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to depression. They suggest taking a multi-vitamin daily.

Vitamin C deficiency - this deficiency is relatively rare. However it is found in people with very poor diets or little or no consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Magnesium deficiency - magnesium is an important mineral that plays a role in sending messages along your nerves. Some researchers estimate that three out of four Americans are deficient in magnesium.

Amino acids deficiency - amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Researchers have found that low levels of some amino acids are related to depression.

Methionine (also called S-adenosylmethionine or SAMe), has been found to be deficient in many elderly and depressed people. Treatment with SAMe supplements has been shown to be effective in alleviating depression in these individuals.

Tryptophan deficiency seems to play a role in depression also. Many depressed people have low levels of this amino acid. 5-HTP, a supplement which contains a form of tryptophan, has demonstrated in numerous studies to be as effective as many modern and frequently used antidepressants (such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil). In addition, 5-HTP is less costly and has fewer and much milder side effects than modern antidepressants.

Low fat diets, in the extreme, have lead to depression in numerous individuals. If these diets are deficient in a specific fatty acid, omega-3, depressive episodes can arise. The reason is that omega-3 is the building block of fats and is an essential ingredient in a healthy diet. Researchers have correlated a decreased consumption of omega-3 with increased rates of depression in various countries around the world.

*The Journal of the American Medical Association recently reported that "400,000 American deaths each year are attributable solely to poor diet and physical inactivity."

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