Biochemical causes of depression

Many nutrients are involved in the production of neurotransmitters that help to boost your mood. Nutrient therapy for the treatment of illness is not promoted by the medical industry despite there being evidence for benefits. Nutrients that can’t be patented are not of any commercial value to justify any companies to fund clinical studies. Clinical Trials for nutrient therapy are limited but the supportive evidence is out there. The medical industry does not promote nutrients because it would lose a source of income from patients, if patients can treat themselves, don’t need prescriptions and don’t need appointments. If you become sick always consider whether you could just be deficient in a vitamin or mineral.

This list mentions some nutrients that assist with low mood.

Magnesium – Magnesium supplementation beneficially affects depression in adults with depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials – PMC Magnesium depletion leads to glutamate overactivity and, as a consequence, to depression and anxiety-like symptoms, neuroendocrine changes including increased cortisol levels, sleep disturbances—including a reduction of slow-wave sleep—and increased inflammatory markers. Magnesium is filtered out of drinking water and so our natural source of intake has declined

Iron is the most abundant of the “trace elements” found in the brain.  Iron plays an important role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Frontiers | Iron deficiency and depression: evidence of critical risk periods Note the reference ranges for deficiency and ‘ normal ‘ levels such as in a ferritin level are debatable. If you are near the lower end of normal you are likely deficient and it is worth a trial of a supplement. You do not have to be anemic to have iron deficiency.

Zinc Multiple studies demonstrate reduced serum zinc levels in depressed individuals compared to healthy controls in a meta-analysis The Emerging Role for Zinc in Depression and Psychosis – PMC Zinc in depression: From development to treatment: A comparative/ dose response meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials – ScienceDirect

B Vitamins Deficiencies in vitamins B₉ (folate) and B₁₂ (cobalamin) cause decreased neurotransmitter biosynthesis, higher homocysteine levels, and increased depressive symptoms. Try vitamin B12 at 1mg dose – the recommended daily dose is far far less than this and may be suboptimal. The reference range for B12 level for deficient and ‘normal’ is debatable, if you are normal but at the lower end please trial a supplement. All B vitamins play a part in neurotransmitter production.

Omega 3 Fish Oils Reduce neuroinflammation, protecting brain cells and enhance neurotransmission. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026156142500010X Neuroinflammation impairs neurotransmitter function

Vitamin D  An increase in serum 25(OH)D concentration is associated with an improvement in depression test scores, with vitamin D supplementation exerting a beneficial effect on both the incidence and the prognosis of depression. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12196374/

The thyroid hormones stimulate the production of neurotransmitters. Low thyroid hormones cause depression. The ‘normal’ reference range is very broad and this means you can have symptoms but be told your thyroid function is normal. If your result is near to the edge of the range (rather than in the middle) then you are near to abnormal levels and your symptoms are likely due to the thyroid. Key nutrients for thyroid function include iodine and selenium, zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin A and D.