In the United States, about 6.7 percent of adults have major depression in a given year, based on 2005 information from the National Institute of Mental Health. While the traditional forms of treatment for depressive disorders include medication and psychotherapy, some patients choose to use more natural methods. According to 2007 information from the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, 16 percent of depression patients use vitamins and nutritional supplements. Several types of vitamins may alleviate symptoms. Patients should talk to their doctors first before using vitamins as a treatment for depression.
Folic Acid
One-third of adults with depression have low levels of folic acid, notes the University of Minnesota website. Also called vitamin B9, folate occurs in several types of food such as poultry, beans, whole grains and liver. Folate is the naturally occurring version of the vitamin, while folic acid is found in man-made supplements. Low levels of folic acid may also affect the effectiveness of depression medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The University of Michigan Health System website recommends 10 mg of folic acid per day for patients with depression. Before starting a folic acid supplement regimen, depression patients should consult with their doctors.
Vitamin B6
Women with depression may benefit from vitamin B6 supplements. Oral contraceptives, which contain either a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone or progesterone only, may lower the level of vitamin B6 in the body. Women who have depression and also use oral contraceptives have mood improvements with vitamin B6 supplements, according to the University of Michigan Health System website. Vitamin B6 supplements may also help women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a type of depressive disorder that occurs a week before menstruation. Depression patients should talk to their doctors before taking vitamin B6 supplements for their symptoms.
Vitamin B-12
Another type of B vitamin, vitamin B-12 may help alleviate the symptoms of depression, especially in elderly patients who have a risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency. The vitamin occurs naturally in meat, shellfish, eggs and milk. Patients with certain conditions, such as pernicious anemia, which affects absorption of the vitamin, may have a deficiency. High levels of vitamin B-12 are available only through injection. Even in people who do not have a vitamin B-12 deficiency, injections of vitamin B-12 may improve mood, notes the University of Michigan Health Center website. Patients interested in using vitamin B-12 to treat their symptoms of depression should consult their doctors.
Vitamin D
Supplements of vitamin D may also increase mood. The University of Michigan Health System website reports that when healthy participants were given 400 to 800 IUs of vitamin D3 each day over five days in late winter, they had significantly higher moods compared to healthy participants who received no vitamin D3. Vitamin D occurs naturally in dairy products, oysters, fish and fortified cereals. Before taking vitamin D supplements, depression patients should talk to their doctors.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Depression
- University of Minnesota: Anxiety and Depression
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
- University of Michigan Health System: Depression
- The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Alternative Medicine for Depression
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Folic Acid in Diet
