The Role of Micronutrient for Depressed Patients

Sileshi Demelash

Abstract

Majority of people are not aware of the relation between nutrition and depression. Depression is mostly resulted from an imbalance in brain chemical that can be due to more typically thought of as strictly biochemical-based or emotionally-rooted. As a result, nutrition can play a key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of depression. Several micronutrient deficiencies adversely affect the brain and hence could aggravate mental disorders. It is important that proper attention to diet, and, when indicated, appropriate supplementation with vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, thiamine, iron, zinc, magnesium , potassium and sodium and omega-3 fatty acids. As the brain chemical (neurotransmitters) are made from chemical precursors, usually from an amino acid (protein) and other micronutrients (vitamin and minerals), it is clear to understand how deficiencies of these nutrients could lead to changes in the pattern of brain chemical neurotransmitter production leading to mental illness like depression.