NEWS

Researchers in New Zealand are conducting two first-of-their-kind randomized controlled trials to assess the usefulness of micronutrients in treating anxiety and depression.

COMMENT

Led by Julia Rucklidge, a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, the researchers conducting these trials are hopeful that micronutrients can revolutionize the treatment of anxiety and depression. Certainly, there is already a great deal of scientific evidence that micronutrient-based approaches are helpful in combating such conditions.

In one example of such evidence, a meta-analysis published in 2016 looked at 13 studies involving 1,233 participants and found that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce symptoms of even major depressive disorder.

Other research has found evidence linking a deficiency of B vitamins with depression. A scientific review published in 2017 noted that low levels of B vitamins are common in depression and that supplementation with these nutrients has been shown to improve depression outcomes.

Similarly, a clinical trial published in 2017 showed that magnesium supplements are effective in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. Finding that daily supplementation with magnesium leads to a significant decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms, and that it works quickly and is well tolerated, the study concluded that magnesium may be a safe over-the-counter alternative to antidepressant drugs.

Research also suggests eating a vitamin-rich Mediterranean-style diet containing fruit, vegetables, nuts, and fish may help prevent depression.

With close to 10 percent of the world’s population now believed to suffer from depression and/or anxiety, and such disorders said to be costing the global economy one trillion dollars a year, micronutrient and dietary-based approaches could potentially be of enormous benefit to hundreds of millions of mental health patients worldwide.

Read article at nutraingredients.com 
Source: https://www.dr-rath-foundation.org/2018/11/micronutrients-for-mental-health-researchers-hopeful-clinical-trials-will-revolutionize-treatment/