Nutrients and Depression: What is The Relation?

These are some of the vitamins that have been shown to affect our mood: 

Vitamin B's (especially B1, B2 and B6)

• 10 times of RDA were used in study shown to improve mood

Folic Acid (B9)

• Study shows that the average level of folic acid is about 25% lower in patients with depression
• Daily intake of 500 mcg can help improve the effects of anti-depressants
• Important nutrient for the metabolism of our brain

Minerals and our mood also have strong relation:

Calcium

• Antidepressants like SSRI can affect the absorption of calcium into bone

Magnesium (Mg)

• Deficiency of Mg links to depression
• Study shows that patients with depression are shown to have significant improvement after 7 days of Mg (Mg glycinate & Mg taurinate) supplementation

Chromium

• Linked to depression too

Selenium

• Researches show that selenium helps to improve depression and anxiety

Zinc

• Low level of zinc is also linked to depression
• Enhances the effects of antidepressants
• Protects brain cells from free radicals damage