Enhancing Your Health Through Essential Nutrients
15 Best Vitamins and Minerals for Depression
If you have chronic depression more than one factor may be causing your symptoms. One of these potential causes is a deficiency in one or more essential nutrient. This could be great news, because along with medication, therapy, and any other treatment your doctor prescribes, making simple changes to your diet may help you to feel better.
Verywell MindRead MoreVitamin C
When too little vitamin C plays a role in depression symptoms, supplements may help. While there are currently more animal than human studies showing the effects of vitamin C on depression, one small study of young male students linked higher levels with an improved overall mood and lower levels with increased depression, anger, and confusion.
Verywell MindRead More
Manganese
Minerals
Although your body does not need much, this trace mineral is required for normal functioning of your brain, nervous system, and many of your body’s enzyme systems. A tiny amount (about 20mg) is stored in your bones, liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and you can also get it from food.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MorePotassium
Minerals
Your body requires potassium for optimum health, including proper kidney, heart, and brain function, muscle growth, and nerve transmission.
A deficiency in potassium can result from a low-carb diet and is also linked to certain conditions, including people with kidney disease, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, and people who use laxatives or diuretics.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreVitamin D
Vitamin D is important to the body in many ways. Your body needs this key vitamin to absorb calcium. What's more, your bones need it to stay healthy and strong, your cells need it to grow, your nerves need it to carry messages between the brain and other body parts, and your immune system needs it to fend off viruses and bacteria.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreMagnesium
Minerals
The fourth most abundant mineral in the human body, magnesium is mostly stored in your bones.14 While not common, magnesium deficiency can occur if you don't consume enough magnesium-rich foods.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreIron
Minerals
Iron deficiency can impact anyone at any age. In fact, it's among the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world.
One study found that 72% of participants with depression had iron deficiency anemia (IDA) compared to 16% of non-depressed participants. Researchers also linked the severity of depression symptoms to an increase in IDA
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreSelenium
Minerals
Selenium is a trace mineral, which means that your body only needs a small amount. Selenium is essential for normal thyroid function, reproduction, and DNA synthesis.
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Calcium
Minerals
Calcium, which is the most abundant mineral in the body, is mostly stored in the bones and teeth where it helps with formation and strength.16 It also plays a role in muscle contraction, normal nervous system function, blood clotting, and hormonal secretion.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreSelenium
Minerals
Selenium is a trace mineral, which means that your body only needs a small amount. Selenium is essential for normal thyroid function, reproduction, and DNA synthesis.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreWhat is zinc?
Zinc is a mineral that is essential for many of the body's normal functions and systems, including:
- the immune system
- wound healing
- blood clotting
- thyroid function
- senses of taste and smell
Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence.
Healthdirect Australia LimitedRead MoreRole of zinc in the development and treatment of mood disorders
Not only has zinc deficiency been shown to induce depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors, supplementation has been used as a treatment for major depression Zinc administration improves the efficacy of antidepressant drugs in depressed patients and may have a particular role to play in treatment-resistant patients. Recent investigations into the molecular mechanisms responsible for these observations suggest a role for zinc in the regulation of neurotransmitter systems, antioxidant mechanisms, neurotrophic factors, and neuronal precursor cells.
National Library of MedicineRead More