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Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium and Depression: A Review of the Evidence, Potential Mechanisms and Implications.
Wang, J, Um, P, Dickerman, BA, Liu, J
Nutrients. 2018;10(5)
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Adequate micronutrient consumption and mental health are of major public health importance. Recent findings suggest micronutrient deficiencies may play a role in the development and progression of depression, yet the findings remain unclear. The aim of this review is to present the recent evidence on the association between several micronutrients and depression and discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical implications. Based on the current literature, evidence shows an association between both zinc and magnesium deficiency and the risk of depression, with stronger evidence supporting zinc. Studies on selenium are limited or inconclusive. According to these findings, the authors support the importance of adequate micronutrient consumption for promoting mental health. They suggest future research should investigate the safety and efficacy of micronutrient supplementation as an adjunct treatment for depression to better inform current prevention and treatment strategies.
Abstract
Micronutrient deficiency and depression are major global health problems. Here, we first review recent empirical evidence of the association between several micronutrients—zinc, magnesium, selenium—and depression. We then present potential mechanisms of action and discuss the clinical implications for each micronutrient. Collectively, empirical evidence most strongly supports a positive association between zinc deficiency and the risk of depression and an inverse association between zinc supplementation and depressive symptoms. Less evidence is available regarding the relationship between magnesium and selenium deficiency and depression, and studies have been inconclusive. Potential mechanisms of action involve the HPA axis, glutamate homeostasis and inflammatory pathways. Findings support the importance of adequate consumption of micronutrients in the promotion of mental health, and the most common dietary sources for zinc and other micronutrients are provided. Future research is needed to prospectively investigate the association between micronutrient levels and depression as well as the safety and efficacy of micronutrient supplementation as an adjunct treatment for depression.
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Metabolic profiling distinguishes three subtypes of Alzheimer's disease.
Bredesen, DE
Aging. 2015;7(8):595-600
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The causes of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) remain incompletely defined and there are currently no truly effective drug therapies available. However, there is growing evidence that disordered blood glucose management and hormonal changes and deficiencies, amongst other things, are implicated in symptom onset. Optimising these various metabolic processes, therefore, may be used as a comprehensive way to avoid cognitive decline or achieve cognitive improvements in symptomatic individuals. This report provides the metabolic results of 3 case studies and suggests 3 different types of AD classification, depending on the individual metabolic profile. Further studies are required to elaborate on the metabolic profiles suggested in this report, however Nutrition Practitioners working with cognitive decline, can use this report as a basis for individualised nutrition protocols to optimise metabolic processes in clients with cognitive decline.
Abstract
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is incompletely defined, and no truly effective therapy exists. However, multiple studies have implicated metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance, hormonal deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia. Optimizing metabolic parameters in a comprehensive way has yielded cognitive improvement, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Therefore, expanding the standard laboratory evaluation in patients with dementia may be revealing. Here I report that metabolic profiling reveals three Alzheimer's disease subtypes. The first is inflammatory, in which markers such as hs-CRP and globulin:albumin ratio are increased. The second type is non-inflammatory, in which these markers are not increased, but other metabolic abnormalities are present. The third type is a very distinctive clinical entity that affects relatively young individuals, extends beyond the typical Alzheimer's disease initial distribution to affect the cortex widely, is characterized by early non-amnestic features such as dyscalculia and aphasia, is often misdiagnosed or labeled atypical Alzheimer's disease, typically affects ApoE4-negative individuals, and is associated with striking zinc deficiency. Given the involvement of zinc in multiple Alzheimer's-related metabolic processes, such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, ADAM10 proteolytic activity, and hormonal signaling, this syndrome of Alzheimer's-plus with low zinc (APLZ) warrants further metabolic, genetic, and epigenetic characterization.
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A decline in inflammation is associated with less depressive symptoms after a dietary intervention in metabolic syndrome patients: a longitudinal study.
Perez-Cornago, A, de la Iglesia, R, Lopez-Legarrea, P, Abete, I, Navas-Carretero, S, Lacunza, CI, Lahortiga, F, Martinez-Gonzalez, MA, Martinez, JA, Zulet, MA
Nutrition journal. 2014;13:36
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Metabolic syndrome (defined as a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors including central obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension and lipid disorders) is rising rapidly worldwide. Certain features of metabolic syndrome including adiposity, glucose intolerance and lipid disorders have also been linked to depression, another burden on healthcare worldwide. The exact pathways linking these diseases are unclear but appear to be bidirectional and dependent on biological and behaviour factors. This study hypothesises that hypo caloric treatment may have a positive impact on both metabolic syndrome and depression, and explores the possible mechanisms for this effect. The sample included 60 subjects with a BMI of at least 36.1 and aged over 50 years. These were a subsample of the RESMENA-S study which involved a 6 month weight loss intervention (either RESMANA-S or a control both with the same energy restrictions). This study found a reduction in depressive symptoms, alongside a reduction in CRP and leptin following the diet. Previous research has found a relationship between weight loss and reduced depression, but this study specifically found the decrease in CRP and leptin with a reduction of depression. The precise mechanism between CRP and depression remains unclear but the authors suggest that inflammation may be responsible. Theoretically, the association between leptin and depression may be related to its metabolic properties and neurobiological activity (it may relate to mood and cognition).
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and depression have become two prevalent diseases worldwide, whose interaction needs further investigation. Dietary treatment for weight loss in patients with MetS may improve depressive manifestations, however, the precise interactive pathways remain uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of a hypocaloric diet designed to reduce MetS features on self-perceived depression and the possible underlying factors. METHODS Sixty subjects (Age: 50 ± 1 y; BMI: 36.1 ± 0.6 kg/m(2)) with MetS were selected from the RESMENA study (control and intervention) after they completed the 6-months hypocaloric treatment and rated for depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Anthropometric and biochemical measurements including leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and insulin levels were evaluated. RESULTS Depressive symptoms decreased during the weight loss intervention, with no differences between both dietary groups (control group -4.2 ± 0.8 vs RESMENA group -3.2 ± 0.6, P = 0.490). The number of criteria of the MetS was higher among subjects with more somatic-related depressive symptoms at baseline (B = 1.032, P-trend = 0.017). After six months of dietary treatment, body weight decreased in all subjects (-8.7%; confidence interval (95% CI) = 7.0-9.7) and also self-perceived depression (-37.9%; 95% CI = 2.7-4.9), as well as circulating leptin (-20.1%; 95% CI = 1.8-6.8), CRP (-42.8%; 95% CI = 0.6-3.0) and insulin (-37.7%; 95% CI = 4.1-7.2) concentrations. The decrease in BDI was significantly associated with declines in body fat mass (B = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.11-0.56) and also with the decrease in leptin (B = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04-0.28) and CRP (B = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.01-0.46) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The decrease in depressive manifestations after a weight loss intervention was related with adiposity, CRP and leptin in subjects with MetS. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01087086.