Depressed Due to Vitamin Deficiency?
April 11, 2005
Several reports show a connection between depression and Vitamin E deficiency. There is a similar relation between depression and lack of Vitamin C and selenium. So far this gives food for thought.
Could it be that lack of vitamin E plays a role in depression? Something in that direction according to a preliminary Australian survey.
Researchers at the University of Wollongong in Australia wanted to investigate whether there was anything to be gained from the numerous reports of vitamin E deficiency in depressed people. They first examined the blood levels of vitamin E in 49 depressed patients. On average, they found a value of 4.7 mmol/l. This is far below the normal range of 12-42.
The immediate explanation could be that the depressed people had a poor diet. But a systematic survey revealed nothing to that effect. They ate like everyone else.
Here’s the thing. If we are to believe the Australians, it must either be that depressives need more vitamin E than others – or that they absorb it less well from the intestine.
Perhaps we should place more reliance on other, larger studies. They have also found low levels of vitamin E in the blood of depressed people, but have found a natural explanation to varying degrees: In a study of more than 400 depressed people in Rotterdam, it turned out that the depressed people ate too little or had an inadequate diet.
Vitamin C and selenium
However, the studies are interesting for other reasons. Something similar has been found when it comes to both selenium and vitamin C. Both are, like vitamin E, antioxidants. The American vitamin C researcher Mark Levine discovered, for example, during experiments with students who were kept on a diet with extremely small amounts of vitamin C, that they invariably became irritable and tired. As soon as they were given more vitamin C again, their mood improved.
Similar results have been found in previous studies with selenium. In an English study, people with depression were given either selenium (100 micrograms/day) or placebo pills. Improvements in mood – and especially a decrease in anxiety – were observed as the selenium content in the blood increased day by day. A similar correlation has been seen in alcoholics and dialysis patients, where selenium deficiency is common.
In other words, there is suspicion from several quarters about some connection between depression and a lack of antioxidants. For now, there is probably mostly speculation, but one can at least say that there is no reason to risk an antioxidant deficiency if your mood is struggling.
By: Vitality Council
References:
1. Owen AJ et al. Low plasma vitamin E levels in major depression: Diet or disease? Eur J Clin Nutr 2005;59:304-6.
2. Tiemeier H et al. Vitamin E and depressive symptoms are not related. The Rotterdam Study. J Affect Disord 2002;72:79-83.
3. Maes M et al. Lower seriúm vitamin E concentration in major depression. Another marker of lowered antioxidant defense in that disease. J Affect Disord 2000;58:241-6.
4. Benton D et al. The impact of selenium supplementation on mood. Biol Psychiatry 1991;29:1092-8.
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