The Role of Trace Minerals in Depression: A Review of Selenium Iron and Copper

Abstract

Depression is currently being reduced with selective nutrition therapies such as supplementations with selected nutrients. Adequate nutrition has an important role in mental health status because the brain needs both macro- and micronutrients for its development and functioning. In particular, deficiency levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), selenium, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, iodine, potassium, sodium, molybdenum, cobalt, chromium, lithium, essential amino acids, B-vitamins, vitamin C and copper are emerging as a potentially modifiable risk factor for mental illness and their deficiencies or toxicities have been implicated in a number of mental health conditions over the lifespan, from developmental disorders and mental retardation in childhood, to depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, stress, hostility and aggression in adulthood, and cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in late adulthood.