Supplements, Minerals & Herbs For Depression

Depression is a common mental disorder that is marked by a two-week period or more of sadness, irritability, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, excessive crying and changes in appetite. Pharmaceutical intervention is an appropriate treatment, along with counseling to aid in overcoming the causes and symptoms of depression. You may consider an alternative therapy program that uses nutritional supplementation to manage your depression, instead of traditional medication.

Increasing Serotonin

Serotonin production aids in calming neurotransmitters of the brain and produce a positive mood. Tryptophan increases serotonin production, which increases the calming effect on your mood. 5-hydroxytryptophan and St. Johns wort improve serotonin levels and can alleviate mild depression and any anxiety that may present with depression. Vitamin B-6 and C serve as co-factors in enzyme processes in helping your body to turn tryptophan into serotonin. A naturopathetic doctor specializing in depression, Donald Brown, recommends combining vitamin B-6 with 5-hydroxytryptophan or St. Johns wort to improve serotonin levels.

SAM-e

SAM-e is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine which is found in every cell in the body and may work to boost your mood when going through bouts of depression. SAM-e donates a methyl to your nervous system, which is the primary reasoning SAM-e is seen a therapeutic supplement for depression. According to Mary Hardy, principal investigator of SAM-e research notes people who suffer from depression have low levels of SAM-e and can benefit from supplemental doses to correct for low levels and improve nerve impulse metabolism.

Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium deficiency is considered rare, but blood values are not a good indicator of status, but in people with depression, lower levels have been obtained, according to Brown. Boosting magnesium intake helps to improve mood and memory. The Western diet is low in magnesium. Taking 200 to 400 mg of magnesium per day may improve mood imbalances.

Amino Acids for Depression

L-tyrosine and phenylalanine help produce the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Increasing the amount of norepinephrine can be useful for people who produce low levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, which is a byproduct of norepinephrine breakdown, which suggests depression causes a low output of norepinephrine. According to Brown, increasing L-tyrosine or increasing L-phenylalaine, which converts to L-tyrosine in the body, to improve norepinephrine levels and improving depression symptoms.

Folate and B-12

Folate and vitamin B-12 deficiencies are related to depression. Vitamin B-12 deficiency or pernicious anemia can mask itself as mild depression. Persons with low stomach production due to aging or medication to treat chronic heartburn can lead to B-12 deficiency because of low stomach acid production which is needed in order for your body to absorb B-12. Folate deficiency causes more severe depression. Brown recommends both serum folate and B-12 levels need to be evaluated and corrected for deficiency in the presence of depression.