Mineral Nutrients For Emotional Balance

The human body depends on many mineral nutrients to fuel the biochemical reactions essential to life. Even small imbalances of these crucial nutrients can impair critical organ functions, hinder the body's natural ability to clear toxins from the system, and exert a negative impact on both physical and mental health.

Zinc is found in nearly every cell of the body, and is used as a co-factor in hundreds of enzyme reactions. Zinc is also an important component of protein. Higher concentrations are stored in brain neurons, and play an important role in the healthy functioning of the central nervous system. Many antidepressants are strongly influenced by zinc metabolism in the body. Research has shown that patients with depression who have low levels of zinc do not respond to treatment as well as those with normal levels.

Magnesium is another crucial mineral for metabolically-active organs in the body, such as the brain. Magnesium deficiency may trigger a wide variety of psychiatric symptoms related to depression, ranging from apathy to psychosis. Unfortunately, most Americans consume low amounts of magnesium — found in dark, leafy green foods-because their diets are typically high in refined foods, meat, and dairy products.

Other mineral deficiencies are also associated with mood disorders, particularly in women. The use of oral contraceptives in women who are iron-deficient is linked to depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Calcium deficiency has been shown to worsen emotional imbalances associated with PMS.

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References:

1. Costello RB, et al. A review of magnesium intake in the elderly. A cause for concern? Magnes Res 1992;5:61-7.
2. Maes M, Vandoolaeghe E, Neels H, Demedts P, Wauters A, Meltzer HY, Altamura C, Desnyder R. Lower serum zinc in major depression is a sensitive marker of treatment resistance and of the immune/inflammatory response in that illness. Biol Psychiatr 1997;42(5):349-358.
3. Narang RL, Gupta KR, Narang AP, Singh R. Levels of copper in zinc and depression. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1991;35(4):272-4.
4. Nowak G. Alterations in zinc homeostasis in depression and antidepressant therapy. Pol J Pharmacol 1998;50(1):1-4.
5. Rasmussen HH, Mortensen PB, Jensen IW. Depression and magnesium deficiency. Int J. Psychiatry Med 1989;19(1):57-63.
6. Rangan AM, Blight GD, Binns CW. Iron status and non-specific symptoms of female students. J Am Coll Nutr 1998;17(4):351-5.

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