News Brief by Lushna Mehra
Members of teams at the University
of Melbourne and Deakin University have conducted studies that underscore the
important relationship between diet and nutrition on mental health. Dr. Jerome Sarris of the University of
Melbourne noted that mental health is affected by many factors, but nutrition
deficiencies now appear to be correlated with psychiatry just as much as it is
with the other biological systems.
Overall
analysis of this relationship shows that improving diet and developing a
nutrient-based prescription for patients are both ways in which mental disorders
may theoretically aid both individuals and the population. Specifically, the most effective nutrients
found in the conducted studies include omega-3s, B vitamins, choline, iron,
zinc, magnesium, S-adenosyl methionine, vitamin D, and amino acids, which all
contribute to better brain health.
Sarris
stated that these nutrients could potentially be prescribed to patients as
supplements. Felice Jacka of Deakin
University highlighted that multiple studies show a negative correlation
between healthy diets and risk for depression and suicide. She notes that nutrition deficiencies
throughout critical periods in early development are related to incidences of
depressive and psychotic disorders.
Early onset ages associated with depression and anxiety stress that
nutrition, especially in the earlier years, may prevent some of the most
prevalent mental disorders. Dr. Sarris
concluded by saying that diet and nutrition should be focused on as the new
direction for attempting to treat or prevent mental illness.
University of Melbourne.
"Diet, nutrition essential for mental health." ScienceDaily.
ScienceDaily, 29 January 2015.
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