Have you ever been to a pharmacy or the health food section of a supermarket? When you go there, you see bottles of vitamins, minerals, and herbs stacked side by side, and your head feels dizzy, right? All of these things are touted as improving your mood, your thinking, and your energy. But the problem is, they often don't provide any scientific data to prove that any of these claims have any effect.
Food Fads and Vitamin Confusion
Simply put, since most of these are classified as "food substances," the regulation for these, even in our country, is much less than the regulation for drugs. This means that they can remain on the market until it is proven that they cause more harm than to cure a disease.
So let's see, can these vitamins and minerals really affect our mood, especially conditions like depression? Can these really improve our mood, or even treat depression?
Do vitamin deficiencies really cause mental problems?
To be honest, even in a developing country like ours, vitamin deficiencies are very rare for someone who eats a balanced diet. In fact, the problem right now may be more of an excess of vitamins than a deficiency.
There are several main causes of vitamin deficiency:
- Food fads: Eating the same type of food without any scientific basis, such as completely avoiding certain foods.
- Problems with nutrient absorption: The body is unable to absorb nutrients properly due to intestinal diseases or surgery.
- Alcoholism: Alcohol causes malnutrition and impairs the body's ability to absorb nutrients.
- Aging and mental illness: As you age or have mental illness, you may not be able to properly take care of your nutrition.
Occasionally, depression, anxiety, or memory problems in some people may be due to a deficiency in a vitamin, especially one in the B group . But remember, this only happens to a very small number of people .
| Vitamin B | Psychological effects of deficiency |
|---|---|
| Thiamine (Vitamin B1) | Mood changes, symptoms such as depression. |
| Niacin (Niacin - Vitamin B3) | Mental and emotional problems are likely to arise. |
| Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) | Symptoms related to depression may occur. |
| Cobalamin (Cobalamin - Vitamin B12) | Severe depression and memory problems may occur. |
| Folic Acid | Problems with mood and mental functioning may occur. |
The most important thing is that if you have depression, your doctor should determine whether it is due to a vitamin deficiency. If there is any doubt, for example, if you have had intestinal surgery, the doctor will test you for it. Only if it is confirmed that the depression is due to such a deficiency, will the doctor treat it by giving you that vitamin.
What is this story about the mineral Chromium?
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about a trace element called chromium . These are metals, like zinc and copper, that our bodies need in very small amounts.
We've known for some time that chromium is essential for the way our bodies use sugar (glucose). If we're deficient in chromium, it can be difficult for our cells to get energy from glucose. This is even more serious for people with diabetes.
But the link between chromium and depression has only recently been discovered. Dr. Malcolm MacLeod and his team conducted a study on five patients with a chronic depressive disorder called dysthymia . In one case, a patient who had not responded well to a drug like Prozac voluntarily started taking a chromium supplement along with his medication. Surprisingly, within a few days, he began to feel amazingly better. The researchers have reported several other similar cases.
But don't just believe these things!
It's very intriguing to hear reports of incidents like this, but we need to look at these things with a bit of skepticism .
Before someone with chronic depression runs around asking for chromium, there needs to be large-scale, controlled studies . It's especially important not to use this kind of stuff without the supervision of a doctor .
Don't assume that everything is safe just because it's labeled "natural." You need to be very careful before using these.
A prime example is the Chinese herbal medicine "ma-huang," which contains chromium, caffeine, and a powerful stimulant called ephedrine . It has been reported that a patient who used it went into a manic state, meaning he became extremely agitated and excited. If you experience any unusual symptoms after taking something like this, see a doctor immediately. If necessary, you can also call the National Poison Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
While the chromium story is interesting, it's still in the research stage. Perhaps one day in the future, this could provide us with a new way to treat depression. But in the meantime, if you're experiencing persistent or severe depression, the best thing to do is talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Vitamin and mineral supplements on the market are not magic solutions to mental health problems. Many of the claims they make are not backed by scientific evidence.
- Vitamin deficiencies can cause mental problems, but they are very rare. Also, only a doctor should diagnose and prescribe treatment for such a condition.
- Never take any vitamins or other supplements on your own without consulting a doctor , especially for a condition like depression.
- Don't be fooled by the word "natural." Even natural products can contain dangerous, potent compounds. Research anything thoroughly before using it.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න