Depression is a common mood disorder that can have a significant impact on your life. The World Health Organization reports that depression affects around 121 million people worldwide. Several types of depression are known, including major depressive disorder, or unipolar depression, and manic depression, or bipolar disorder. While various treatments can help reduce symptoms of depression, some research has shown that inositol and choline supplementation can also provide benefits. Consult your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
About Choline
Choline is a nutrient required for maintaining proper health. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University notes that your body can produce small amounts of choline, but not enough to meet your daily nutritional requirements. You must also obtain choline from dietary sources, such as beef liver, eggs or certain types of fish, or dietary supplementation. Choline plays a role in cell membrane synthesis, lipid metabolism and also acts as a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which helps with nerve transmission, memory and muscle stimulation. Some research has found that choline supplementation can have a beneficial impact on bipolar disorder and depressive symptoms.
Choline Benefits -- Evidence
In his book, "Moving Beyond Depression: A Whole-Person Approach to Healing," psychologist Gregory Jantz states that low levels of choline can cause depression. Low levels of choline may also be implicated in bipolar disorder. A study published in the September 1996 issue of the journal "Biological Psychiatry" found that choline augmentation of treatment with lithium, a mood-stabilizing drug used to treat bipolar disorder, helped to improve mania in five out of six study participants, and improved mood-related symptoms in four out of six patients.
About Inositol
Inositol is another commonly used supplement for treating depressive symptoms, but unlike choline, it is not thought to be an essential nutrient. Tufts Medical Center notes that inositol is "unofficially" referred to as vitamin B-8. Inositol is found naturally in foods such as nuts, seeds, whole grains and citrus fruits. Like choline, it plays an important role in the manufacturing of cell membranes and in lipid metabolism. It also helps to manufacture serotonin, an important mood-regulating neurotransmitter. Low levels of serotonin are thought to be a major contributing cause of depression. A limited amount of research has shown that inositol may be a useful supplement for treating depression.
Inositol Benefits -- Evidence
A study published in 1999 in the journal "Psychopharmacology" evaluated the effects of inositol treatment on laboratory animals subjected to a forced swim test and an immobility model. The researchers found that inositol appeared to have an antidepressantlike effect in the laboratory setting, but suggested that further research should be conducted to fully evaluate inositol's possible benefits. Another study, published in 1995 in "The American Journal of Psychiatry," examined the effects of 12 g/day of inositol versus placebo on patients suffering from depression. The results found a significant improvement in depressive symptoms versus placebo. However, more studies are needed to fully determine the benefits of inositol on human subjects suffering from depression.
Considerations
While choline and inositol may provide certain benefits for depression, you should not rely on dietary supplements to self-treat your symptoms. Consult your doctor if you think you are depressed. As with any dietary supplement, inform your doctor if you choose to use choline or inositol.
References
- World Health Organization: Depression
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Choline
- National Institute of Mental Health: Types of Depression
- "Biological Psychiatry"; Choline in the Treatment of Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder: Clinical and Neurochemical Findings in Lithium-Treated Patients; A. Stoll et al.; September 1996
- "Moving Beyond Depression: A Whole-Person Approach to Healing"; Gregory Jantz, Ph.D and Ann McMurray; 2003
- Tufts Medical Center: Inositol
- "Psychopharmacology"; Inositol Reduces Depressive-Like Behaviors in Two Different Animal Models of Depression; H. Einat et al.; May 1999
- "The American Journal of Psychiatry"; Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of Inositol Treatment of Depression; J. Levine et al.; 1995
