The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Psychiatry

Nourishing the mind: how the EAT-Lancet reference diet (ELD) and MIND diet impact stress, anxiety, and depression

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested a link between diet and mental health. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the association between emerging diets such as the EAT-Lancet reference diet (ELD) and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, and mental health in different societies. This study aimed to determine the association between adherence to ELD and MIND diets and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress.

METHODS

This research involved 4579 participants from the PERSIAN Organizational Cohort Study in Mashhad (POCM). To assess dietary intake, a comprehensive 118-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was employed. The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was used to assess adherence to the ELD. Mental health status was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine the relationship between these scores and mental health indicators.

RESULTS

In the adjusted model, the highest quartile of PHDI showed a 35% reduced risk of depression compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR: 0.653, 95% CI: 0.483-0.883; P = 0.008). However, compared to the reference quartile, participants in the highest quartile of MIND diet exhibited significantly lower risks of depression (OR: 0.611, 95% CI: 0.447-0.836; P = 0.005), anxiety (OR: 0.559, 95% CI: 0.418-0.746; P < 0.001), and stress (OR: 0.629, 95% CI: 0.419-0.944; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The ELD and MIND diet were both associated with reduced odds of depression. Additionally, MIND diet was associated with decreased likelihood of anxiety and stress. However, no connection was observed between ELD and anxiety or stress. Further large-scale interventions are required to confirm these findings.

Maternal mood, anxiety and mental health functioning after combined myo-inositol, probiotics, micronutrient supplementation from preconception: Findings from the NiPPeR RCT

Observational studies have reported associations between nutrition during pregnancy and mental wellbeing. As secondary outcomes, the NiPPeR double-blind randomized trial in women planning conception investigated whether a myo-inositol, probiotics and enriched micronutrients formulation (intervention) taken preconception and throughout pregnancy could improve mental wellbeing during pregnancy and post-delivery, compared with a standard micronutrient supplement (control). Mood and anxiety symptoms were ascertained (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-state)) at preconception (baseline), 7, 28 and 34 weeks gestation, 3-weeks and 6-months post-delivery. EPDS>=13 was categorised as low mood; STAI-state>=45 as high anxiety. Change in mental health functioning was assessed as difference between preconception baseline and 6-month post-delivery 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12v2) mental component scores. Adjusting for site, ethnicity and baseline scores, there were no robust differences in EPDS and STAI-state scores between intervention and control groups across pregnancy (n = 630) and post-delivery (n = 532). Compared to controls, intervention group women averaged a 1.21 (95 %CI 0.04,2.39) higher change in SF-12v2 mental component score from preconception to 6-months post-delivery. Taking a myo-inositol, micronutrient and probiotic supplement during preconception/pregnancy had no effect on mood and anxiety, but there was evidence of a modest improvement in mental health functioning from preconception to 6-months post-delivery.

Magnesium (Mg2+): Essential Mineral for Neuronal Health: From Cellular Biochemistry to Cognitive Health and Behavior Regulation

Magnesium (Mg2+) is a crucial mineral involved in numerous cellular processes critical for neuronal health and function. This review explores the multifaceted roles of Mg2+, from its biochemical interactions at the cellular level to its impact on cognitive health and behavioral regulation. Mg2+ acts as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in ATP synthesis, nucleic acid stability, and neurotransmitter release. It regulates ion channels, modulates synaptic plasticity, and maintains the structural integrity of cell membranes, which are essential for proper neuronal signaling and synaptic transmission. Recent studies have highlighted the significance of Mg2+ in neuroprotection, showing its ability to attenuate oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and mitigate excitotoxicity, thereby safeguarding neuronal health. Furthermore, Mg2+ deficiency has been linked to a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Supplementation with Mg2+, particularly in the form of bioavailable compounds such as Magnesium-L-Threonate (MgLT), Magnesium-Acetyl-Taurate (MgAT), and other Magnesium salts, has shown some promising results in enhancing synaptic density, improving memory function, and alleviating symptoms of mental health disorders. This review highlights significant current findings on the cellular mechanisms by which Mg2+ exerts its neuroprotective effects and evaluates clinical and preclinical evidence supporting its therapeutic potential. By elucidating the comprehensive role of Mg2+ in neuronal health, this review aims to underscore the importance of maintaining optimal Mg2+ levels for cognitive function and behavioral regulation, advocating for further research into Mg2+ supplementation as a viable intervention for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions.

Sex-specific metabolic signatures in methamphetamine addicts

Methamphetamine (METH) is a commonly abused addictive psychostimulant, and METH-induced neurotoxic and behavioural deficits are in a sex-specific manner. However, there is lack of biomarkers to evaluate METH addiction in clinical practice, especially for gender differences. We utilized ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) to detect the serum metabolomics in METH addicts and controls, specially exploring the sex-specific metabolic alterations by METH abuse. We found that many differently expressed metabolites in METH addicts related to metabolisms of amino acid, energy, vitamin and neurological disorders. Further, METH abuse caused different patterns of metabolomics in a sex-specific manner. As to amino acid metabolism, L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan and L-histidine in serum of male addicts and betaine in serum of female addicts were significantly changed by METH use. In addition, it seemed that purine and pyrimidine-related metabolites (e.g., xanthosine and adenosine 5'-monophosphate) in male and the metabolites of hormone (e.g., cortisol) and folate biosynthesis (e.g., 7,8-dihydrobiopterin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) in female were more sensitive to METH addiction. Our findings revealed that L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate acid and citric acid may be potential biomarkers for monitoring METH addiction in clinic. Considering sex-specific toxicity by METH, the metabolites of purine and pyrimidine metabolism in male and those of stress-related hormones in female may be used to facilitate the accurate diagnosis and treatment for METH addicts of different genders.

Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects of Fermented Huauzontle, a Prehispanic Mexican Pseudocereal

This study aimed to assess the potential antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of huauzontle fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp22. The possible association between oxidative stress/inflammation biomarkers and unconditional behavioural tests was also evaluated. Red light-induced stress mice C57Bl/6 (n = 5 per group) received orally either fermented or unfermented huauzontle, diazepam or fluoxetine. A non-stressed group which received saline solution was also included. Then, anxiety-related and depression-related behaviour tests were performed; after that, blood and tissues samples were collected to determine oxidative stress/inflammation biomarkers. The mice receiving both fermented and unfermented huauzontle spent more time (94 s) in open arms in the elevated plus maze test p < 0.05; besides, travelled longer distance (p < 0.05) and increased by more than 50% the exploration time for the open field, as well as the time spent in the illuminated zone (197 s) in the light/dark test. Furthermore, reduced immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swim tests (23.1 and 15.85, respectively), and anhedonia was no detected in the sucrose preference test. The oxidative stress index was lower in the liver of fermented huauzontle-treated mice, while enhanced levels of IL-10, MCP-1 and BDNF in plasma, and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity in the hippocampus were found. Finally, PCA revealed a positive correlation among LOX and BDNF and parameters determined in the anxiety tests, as between catalase activity and immobility time in the depression test. These findings indicate the novel potential therapeutic applications of fermented huauzontle on depression and anxiety-like behaviours possibly mediated by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Phenome-wide screening of the putative causal determinants of depression using genetic data

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders and one of the top causes of disability throughout the world. The present study sought to identify putative causal associations between depression and hundreds of complex human traits through a genome-wide screening of genetic data and a hypothesis-free approach. We leveraged genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics for depression and 1504 complex traits and investigated potential causal relationships using the latent causal variable method. We identified 559 traits genetically correlated with depression risk at FDR < 5%. Of these, 46 were putative causal genetic determinants of depression, including lifestyle factors, diseases of the nervous system, respiratory disorders, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, traits related to the health of the gastrointestinal system, obesity, vitamin D levels, and the use of prescription medications, among others. No phenotypes were identified as potential outcomes of depression. Our results suggest that genetic liability to multiple complex traits may contribute to a higher risk for depression. In particular, we show a putative causal genetic effect of pain, obesity, and inflammation on depression. These findings provide novel insights into the potential causal determinants of depression and should be interpreted as testable hypotheses for future studies to confirm, which may facilitate the design of new prevention strategies to reduce depression's burden.

Efficacy of a novel proprietary dietary supplement (TRI 360TM) on psychological symptoms and stress-related quality of life in adult subjects: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Nowadays, diet plays an increasingly important role in normal physiology and mental health. Recently, many studies have shown that more use of dietary supplements in mental and psychological disorders. Study objective was to investigate safety and efficacy of proprietary nutraceutical combination (TRI 360^TM) on psychological symptoms in adult human subjects with one or more psychological symptoms in open-label, single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four participants aged 20-45 years with psychological symptoms were completed this trial. Participants were randomly assigned to placebo and treatment groups. Treatment group received TRI 360^TM capsules twice a day. TRI 360^TM was well-tolerated and didn't show treatment-related adverse-events upto 180 days. All assessed perception scorings on psychological symptoms like fatigue, mental stress, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, emotional trauma, mood changes, self-confidence, willpower, and motivation were very significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) improved in TRI 360^TM participants than placebo control group. Furthermore, significantly (p ≤ 0.001) increased levels of functional biomarkers: vitamin C and D₃ metabolites, neurotransmitters, hormones, antiaging protein (klotho) level; and decreased proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde in TRI 360^TM group than placebo. According to these findings, the use of TRI 360^TM supplementation as a potentially safe therapeutic option for reducing psychological symptoms in healthy adults.

Interplay of Nutrition and Psychoneuroendocrineimmune Modulation: Relevance for COVID-19 in BRICS Nations

The consequences of COVID-19 are not limited to physical health deterioration; the impact on neuropsychological well-being is also substantially reported. The inter-regulation of physical health and psychological well-being through the psychoneuroendocrineimmune (PNEI) axis has enduring consequences in susceptibility, treatment outcome as well as recuperation. The pandemic effects are upsetting the lifestyle, social interaction, and financial security; and also pose a threat through perceived fear. These consequences of COVID-19 also influence the PNEI system and wreck the prognosis. The nutritional status of individuals is also reported to have a determinative role in COVID-19 severity and convalescence. In addition to energetic demand, diet also provides precursor substances [amino acids (AAs), vitamins, etc.] for regulators of the PNEI axis such as neurotransmitters (NTs) and immunomodulators. Moreover, exaggerated immune response and recovery phase of COVID-19 demand additional nutrient intake; widening the gap of pre-existing undernourishment. Mushrooms, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, and legumes are few of such readily available food ingredients which are rich in protein and also have medicinal benefits. BRICS nations have their influences on global development and are highly impacted by a large number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. The adequacy and access to healthcare are also low in BRICS nations as compared to the rest of the world. Attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic are praiseworthy in BRICS nations. However, large population sizes, high prevalence of undernourishment (PoU), and high incidence of mental health ailments in BRICS nations provide a suitable landscape for jeopardy of COVID-19. Therefore, appraising the interplay of nutrition and PNEI modulation especially in BRICS countries will provide better understanding; and will aid in combat COVID-19. It can be suggested that the monitoring will assist in designing adjunctive interventions through medical nutrition therapy and psychopsychiatric management.

Thiamine Deficiency Causes Long-Lasting Neurobehavioral Deficits in Mice

Thiamine deficiency (TD) has detrimental effects on brain health and neurobehavioral development, and it is associated with many aging-related neurological disorders. To facilitate TD-related neuropsychological studies, we generated a TD mouse model by feeding a thiamine-deficient diet for 30 days, followed by re-feeding the control diet for either one week or 16 weeks as recovery treatment. We then performed neurobehavioral tests in these two cohorts: cohort of one week post TD treatment (1 wk-PTDT) and 16 weeks post TD treatment (16 wks-PTDT). The TD mice showed no significant difference from control in any tests in the 1 wk-PTDT cohort at the age of 13-14 weeks. The tests for the 16 wks-PTDT cohort at the age of 28-29 weeks, however, demonstrated anxiety and reduced locomotion in TD animals in open field and elevated plus maze. In comparison, rotor rod and water maze revealed no differences between TD and control mice. The current findings of the differential effects of the same TD treatment on locomotion and anxiety at different ages may reflect the progressive and moderate change of TD-induced neurobehavioral effects. The study suggests that, even though the immediate neurobehavioral impact of TD is modest or negligible at a young age, the impact could develop and become severe during the aging process.

Dietary zinc supplement militates against ketamine-induced behaviours by age-dependent modulation of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase activity in mice

BACKGROUND

The potential differential modulatory effects of zinc-supplemented diet on ketamine-induced changes in behaviours, brain oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity, and zinc (ZN) levels were examined in prepubertal and aged mice.

METHODS

Aged and prepubertal mice were divided into 2 groups consisting of 80 aged and 80 prepubertal mice, each having 8 treatment groups of 10 animals each. The treatment groups are: vehicle control group (fed standard diet and given intraperitoneal {ip} normal saline), three groups fed ZN-supplemented diet (at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of feed) and given ip normal saline, ketamine control group (fed standard diet and given ip ketamine), and finally another three groups fed ZN-supplemented diet (at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of feed) and given ip ketamine. Intraperitoneal normal saline (at 2 ml/kg/day) or ketamine (at 30 mg/kg/day) were administered during the last 10 days of study. On day 60, animals were exposed to the open-field, Y-maze, radial-arm maze, and elevated plus maze following which they were euthanised; blood and brain homogenate were used for assessment of biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Zinc supplementation was associated with an increase in food intake and body weight (in both age groups), a reduction in ketamine-induced increase in locomotion, rearing and grooming, and significantly higher working-memory scores (compared to ketamine control). Also, there was a decrease in anxiety-related behaviours, enhanced antioxidant status, reduced lipid peroxidation, and reduced acetylcholinesterase activity.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, dietary ZN supplementation was associated with variable degrees of prevention of ketamine-induced changes, depending on the age of animals.

Effective Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of the Cyclic Mastalgia (Breast Pain): A Review

Introduction

Mastalgia is the most common benign breast disorder during the fertility period of women. So far a wide range of natural or complementary medicines is used to cure mastalgia. Sanitary organizations need complete and suitable details to help women, for making the proper decision for alternative treatment based on the evidence. The aim of the present study is to introduce medicinal plant-based treatments about mastalgia and summarizes clinical trials about this disorder.

Method

The articles were provided using mixture of keywords including cyclic pain, breast, treatment, therapeutics, therapy, clinical trial, herbal, drug, mastalgia and all the probable terms, in national and international databases SID, Iran Medex, Magiran, PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Science direct and Cochrane library, in both Persian and English languages. All cross-sectional and review articles about herbal treatment of mastalgia until 2018 November were studied.

Results

Nineteen articles from all of the available articles (45 cases) and a sample size about of (1987 cases) were included in our study. The articles were clinical trials. The results revealed that mastalgia could be healed by Nigella sativa, Vitex agnus-castus, curcumin, Hypericum perforatum, Citrus sinensis, wheat germ, and Ginkgo biloba.

Conclusion

Most of the evaluated medicinal plants possessing antioxidant compounds with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, exhibited healing effects in the treatment of mastalgia. Thus, medicinal plants can be considered in the treatment of mastalgia; however, further investigations are needed to obtain more details about their probable side effects.

Ketamine-induced behavioural and brain oxidative changes in mice: an assessment of possible beneficial effects of zinc as mono- or adjunct therapy

RATIONALE

We studied the influence of zinc, haloperidol or olanzapine on neurobehaviour (open-field, radial arm maze and elevated plus maze) and brain antioxidant status in vehicle- or ketamine-treated mice, with the aim of ascertaining the potentials of zinc in counteracting ketamine's effects.

OBJECTIVES

Experiment 1 assessed the effects of zinc in healthy animals and the relative degrees of modulation of ketamine's effects by zinc, haloperidol or olanzapine, respectively. Experiment 2 assessed the modulation of ketamine's effects following co-administration of zinc with haloperidol or olanzapine.

METHODS

Male mice weighing 18-20 g each were used. Animals were pretreated with ketamine (except vehicle, zinc, haloperidol and olanzapine controls) for 10 days before commencement of 14-day treatment (day 11-24) with vehicle, zinc, haloperidol or olanzapine (alone or in combination). Ketamine injection also continued alongside zinc and/or standard drugs in the ketamine-treated groups. Zinc, haloperidol and olanzapine were administered by gavage. Treatments were given daily and behaviours assessed on days 11 and 24. On day 24, animals were sacrificed and whole brain homogenates used for estimation of glutathione, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.

RESULTS

Ketamine increased open-field behaviours, nitric oxide and MDA levels, while it decreased working memory, social interaction and glutathione. Administration of zinc alone or in combination with haloperidol or olanzapine was associated with variable degrees of reversal of these effects.

CONCLUSION

Zinc may have the potential of a possible therapeutic agent and/or adjunct in the reversal of schizophrenia-like changes in behaviour and brain oxidative status.

Magnesium in schizophrenia

Many psychopathological symptoms, including schizophrenia, can be associated with magnesium metabolism disturbances. In the literature, contradictory data exist regarding magnesium levels in patients with this disorder. However, this situation might be caused by determination of extracellular concentration of magnesium; although, this is mainly an intracellular ion. There are no data concerning determination of the ionized fraction of magnesium in patients with schizophrenia, while the ionized fraction represents 67% of the total pool of magnesium in healthy people. Also, the mechanism of magnesium action-the effect of magnesium ions on NMDA and GABA receptors-has not yet been fully investigated. There are preliminary studies aimed at increasing the effectiveness of schizophrenia pharmacotherapy via magnesium supplementation. Multidirectional activity of magnesium can significantly increase its therapeutic effect in psychiatry. This observation is confirmed by recent studies conducted by various research teams. However, further studies on the role of magnesium supplementation in patients with schizophrenia are needed.

Methylation patterns in whole blood correlate with symptoms in schizophrenia patients

DNA methylation, one of the main epigenetic mechanisms to regulate gene expression, appears to be involved in the development of schizophrenia (SZ). In this study, we investigated 7562 DNA methylation markers in blood from 98 SZ patients and 108 healthy controls. A linear regression model including age, gender, race, alcohol, nicotine and cannabis use status, and diagnosis was implemented to identify C-phosphate-G (CpG) sites significantly associated with diagnosis. These CpG sites were further validated using an independent data set. Sixteen CpG sites were identified with hyper- or hypomethylation in patients. A further verification of expression of the corresponding genes identified 7 genes whose expression levels were also significantly altered in patients. While such altered methylation patterns showed no correlation with disorganized symptoms and negative symptoms in patients, 11 CpG sites significantly correlated with reality distortion symptoms. The direction of the correlations indicates that methylation changes possibly play a protective mechanism to lessen delusion and hallucination symptoms in patients. Pathway analyses showed that the most significant biological function of the differentially methylated CpGs is inflammatory response with CD224, LAX1, TXK, PRF1, CD7, MPG, and MPO genes directly involved in activations of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells or in cytotoxic reaction. Our results suggest that such methylation changes may modulate aspects of the immune response and hence protect against the neurobiological substrate of reality distortion symptoms in SZ patients.

The role of nutraceuticals in the management of autism

Autism and related disorders are increasingly prevalent behavioral syndromes of impaired verbal and nonverbal communication and socialization owing to neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The most recent estimate for the prevalence of autistic disorders is about 1% on a global scale. Etiology of autism is multifactorial and multidimensional that makes therapeutic intervention even harder. Heterogeneity of genetic factors, oxidative stress, autoimmune mechanism, and epigenetic mechanisms complicate the nature of pathogenesis of the disease. Nutraceutical approach to treat this disease is a promising strategy, especially in some areas, it is more attractive than others. This review critically analyzes the roles of vitamins and cofactors, dietary modifications and gut abnormalities, probiotics and prebiotics, phytochemicals, and environmental factors in order to determine the state of evidence in nutraceutical-based autism management practices. This article presents a systematic review of randomized- and placebocontrolled trials to examine the evidence supports the use of autism nutraceu10.1016/j.jsps.2012.10.001ticals. The results will be discussed in the light of all relevant evidence generated from other clinical and exploratory studies.