Can dietary supplements help treat depression？
Depression is common. Dietary supplements may help relieve discomfort.
Depression is marked by continuous sadness, emptiness, or inability to experience joy for no obvious reason. It differs from regular mood swings, lasts longer, and can impair normal functioning, according to the WHO.
3.8% of the world is depressed, according to WHO. Depression is more common in women and increases with age.
Since 2010, depression has steadily increased to roughly one in ten Americans in 2020.
Depressive episodes describe major depressive disorder (MDD), a common mood disease. Major depressive disorder is characterized by two-week depressive episodes that create "clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning."
Sad mood, loss of interest in most activities, major unintentional weight loss/gain or appetite fluctuations, sleep difficulty, exhaustion, a sense of worthlessness, decreased thinking or attention, and suicidal thoughts are common symptoms.
Melancholy treatments
Drugs and psychotherapies can treat depression. Depression severity determines treatment.
Neurotransmitters—which allow nerve cells to communicate—are altered by antidepressants. Antidepressants affect neurotransmitters differently.
SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram are the first-line treatment. Serotonin reuptake is blocked by these medications. Often relieves depression.
Dietary supplements—beneficial?
Sixty-eight percent of patients fail the initial antidepressant medication, and 15 to 30 percent fail after two adequate treatments. Vitamins, minerals, and probiotics.
Examined supplements and depression in overweight and obese people at risk for depression. Folic acid, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium supplements prevented severe depression as well as a placebo in 2019. Weight loss and a healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet can help overweight and obese people with depression.
資料來源：Rita Ponce (2023), “Can dietary supplements help treat depression? The latest research”. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-dietary-supplements-help-treat-depression-the-latest-research.