Vitamins and Depression

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There are certain Vitamins which are essential for the proper brain functioning. The deficiency of these essential vitamins impairs the normal brain functioning. Using this hypothesis, some researchers have postulated the importance of vitamins in the treatment of depression and other mental illnesses.

"Vitamins are important, not only for the physical health, but for the mental health as well," the researcher said.

Deficiency of nutrients can alter brain function and lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. Nutrient deficiencies can have a profound influence on the brain and mood.

Top Stories in Vitamins

Vitamin B3 Vitamin B deficiency has been associated with depression ans anxiety. It helps in irritability and other mental disturbances.		Vitamin B12 and its deficiency leading depression - The mental changes caused by deficiency of Vitamin B12 can raise from difficulty in concentrating or remembering, mental fatigue and low moods.
Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 has a major importance in regulating your mood disorders & is the most implicated of all the vitamins in the cause & treatment of depression.		Vitamin B5 - Vitamin B5 is active in the formation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which can be involved in some depression.
Vitamin B2 and its deficiency leading Depression Although this vitamin itself has not generally associate with emotional states, researchers find that diets restricted only in riboflavin produce adverse personality		Vitamins Deficiency Symptoms Chart - Vitamins and minerals are essential for the proper functioning of the body organ. Check out this list of deficiency symptoms to see if you are lacking in some nutrients.

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More in Vitamins

• B-Vitamin Problems May Cause Depression in Some. The first clinical effects of insufficient vitamin B complex are mood changes, insomnia, changes in appetite, sugar carving and impaired drug metabolism.
• Vitamins Deficiency Symptoms Chart - See the chart to know effects of various vitamins and minerals deficiency in depression See the chart which explains in a nutshell the benifits, deficiency effects, source and daily dosage of the B Vitaimin family.
• Vitamin B1 and its deficiency leading Depression Vitamin B1 is essential for nerve stimulation and for metabolism of carbohydrates to give brain energy as well as body energy. Deficiency symptoms include mood disorders, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, night terror etc.
• Vitamin B - B2 and its deficiency leading Depression Although this vitamin itself has not generally associate with emotional states, researchers find that diets restricted only in riboflavin produce adverse personality changes, including aggressive personality alterations.
• Vitamin B3 Vitamin B deficiency has been associated with depression ans anxiety. It helps in irritability and other mental disturbances.
• Vitamin B - B5 Vitamin B5 is active in the formation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which can be involved in some depression. A deficiency can caues depression, fatigue and allergies.
• Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 has a major importance in regulating your mood disorders and is the most implicated of all the vitamins in the cause and treatment of depression.
• Vitamin B12 and its deficiency leading depression The mental changes caused by deficiency of Vitamin B12 can raise from difficulty in concentrating or remembering, mental fatigue and low moods, to a severe depression, intense agitation etc.

Investigators in Norway found that depression occurred more commonly in people who had high levels of the amino acid homocysteine in their blood, and in those who carried a form of a gene that encodes a protein involved in processing folate.

Homocysteine is a normal byproduct of metabolism, and folic acid -- the form of folate found in supplements -- is known to aid in breaking down homocysteine.

"Lack of folate and/or a disturbed folate metabolism ... may partially be the cause of the depression in some people," study author Dr. Ingvar Bjelland of the University of Bergen told Reuters Health.

Nobody ever would have thought that taking a diet rich in vitamins can help in curing depression. There are a variety of vitamin deficiencies that can lead to depression symptoms. Correcting deficiencies, when present, often relieves depression. However, even if a deficiency cannot be demonstrated, nutritional supplementation may improve symptoms in selected groups of depressed patients.

Research has shown that almost all varieties of disease can be produced by the deficiency of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients. The most important factor of nutritional deficiencies is the intense processing and refining of foods like cereals and sugar.

Endogenous depression is a type of depression that can be due to internal biochemical abnormalities. Lifestyle changes and herbs may be used to combat certain types of depression but dietary and nutrient interventions are usually most effective for endogenous depression. Deficiency of certain B vitamins including B6, B12 and Folic Acid have been shown to affect mood and are best supplemented by a B-complex formula.

How much vitamins and minerals do you really need for depression?

Your body needs only small amounts of vitamins and minerals. But because what the body manufactures is often not enough, these must be obtained from your diet and from supplements. When adding vitamins and other supplements to your diet for depression you can take two approaches.

• You can take multi-vitamin or multi-supplement combinations. These supplements are mixed together to provide you with the best combinations.
• Or you can take individual supplements.