The NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, have just released a report, “Nutrition Standards for Consumers of Inpatient Mental Health Services in NSW”  which shows a positive shift towards using nutritional therapy for mental health conditions.

In the past in Australia, the links between nutrition based interventions and mental health conditions have not been the subject of many studies.

The good news that comes from the above report is that NSW Health have now identified that certain nutritional deficiencies can have a negative effect on people who suffer with depression.

Specifically:

  • Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is helpful for people who have unipolar depression.
  • Evidence supports the use of folic acid in the treatment of depression.
  • Deficiencies of magnesium have been linked to depression and some case studies suggest that nutritional therapy using supplemental magnesium (within normal dietary intake ranges) be part of the treatment regime.

 

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