Washington University School of Medicine states that nearly 18 million adults in the United States suffer from some form of depression, and did you know that women are twice as likely to have depression than men?
While the effects of depression can vary from person-to-person, typically the treatment options are uniform and result in an 80 percent success rate according to the Washing University School of Medicine. If you wish to naturally curb your depression symptoms, then supplementation with vitamin E may be an effective option as initial trials show promising results.
What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is classified as a fat-soluble vitamin, and its primary role is to prevent the production of ROS, or reactive oxygen species, chemicals. ROS is created when food is converted into energy, and one of the byproducts of such a process is oxygen creation. When this oxygen meets free radicals, ROS is then developed.
According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, reactive oxygen species are capable of causing damage on the cellular level.
Vitamin E combats the damage caused by ROS through its high antioxidant concentration and initial research states that the antioxidants found in vitamin E can actually reverse chronic damage due to free radicals and ROS compounds.
Vitamin E and Depression – Scientific Evidence:
According to the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers at the Clinical Research Center for Mental Health in Belgium found depression patients typically have a lower-than-normal vitamin E serum concentration when compared to those without depression.
Using this information, researchers came to the conclusion that those with clinical depression may be experiencing an increase in lipid peroxidation because of low antioxidant counts. Although these findings are currently being debated among medical circles, another study published by the University of Wollongong Smart Foods Centre also found that depression patients have a lower-than-normal vitamin E concentration; however, this study suggests that the cause of depression may be due to a lack of vitamin E from dietary sources.
Vitamin E Dosage:
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements states adults aged 19 and over should consume a maximum of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin E daily; however, it is vital you do not exceed this dosage as taking vitamin E at high levels can cause adverse side effects.
If you are currently taking any medications, talk with your doctor regarding the safety of vitamin E supplements as this vitamin can dilute the effectiveness of certain medications.
References Used:
http://www.psychiatry.wustl.edu/depression/depression_facts.htm
Washington University School of Medicine: Depression Facts
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VITAMINE/
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15508016
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Low Plasma Vitamin E Levels in Major Depression: Diet or Disease?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10802134
Journal of Affective Disorders: Lower Serum Vitamin E Concentrations in Major Depression: Another Market of Lowered Antioxidant…