Most people are unaware of vitamin C’s key role in mental health and mood. According to a large population study that is published in Frontiers in Nutrition, having higher levels of vitamin C in the blood is linked to a lower risk of depression. The official dietary recommendations for vitamin C only focus on preventing the potentially lethal deficiency disease called scurvy, and things like stress, ageing, stimulant use, overweight, infections, and chronic illnesses can increase your need for the nutrient.

According to Bruce Ames, an American biochemist, ageing processes are largely due to lack of nutrients. One important contributing factor is the fact that our uptake and utilization of vitamins and minerals decrease with age. In addition, a lot of different types of medicine block our ability to utilize different nutrients. As a result of this, many of our enzyme processes slow down, making our cells increasingly vulnerable and that increases our risk of disease. Nonetheless, there is a lot we can do to optimize our intake and utilization of nutrients, particularly with respect to vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, selenium, and zinc. It is also worth taking a look at Q10 for energy turnover and melatonin for healthy sleep. Our endogenous synthesis of both compounds decreases with age.

Aggressive behavior is known to be linked to social and cultural factors, but it can also be rooted in biological factors in the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish and fish oil supplements are able to reduce the problem in both adults and children, according to a meta-analysis that is published in Aggression and Violent Behavior. The authors also mention that omega-3 fatty acids control local brain inflammation that can negatively affect mood and behavior. The diet plays a large and overlooked role in mental health, and the authors say that because aggressive behavior has huge personal and socioeconomic costs it is important to look seriously into possible ways to prevent it.

Main meals are vital for stabilizing blood sugar levels, which makes it easier to concentrate in school. Fruit and vegetables are good sources of vitamin C, folic acid, magnesium, and many other useful nutrients. According to a new British study, children who eat breakfast and lunch and get more fruit and vegetables have better mental health by a number of different parameters. It is also a fact that many children don’t thrive and that lack of nutrients can trigger or exacerbate the problem. For that reason, the researchers call for a better health policy at home and at school to ensure that children get healthy diets, simply because it optimizes their mental well-being and academic potential.

The number of seniors is on the rise and so is the number of older people with cognitive decline and dementia. It is a huge health burden and not enough is done to prevent it. According to a large population study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, widespread problems with vitamin D deficiency combined with too little physical activity contribute significantly to an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia in old age. The authors describe the important interaction between vitamin D and exercise, which is vital for brain health and cognitive health.

Vitamin B12 is involved in the making of red blood cells. Its role in our nervous system is often overlooked. According to a large Irish study of older people that is published in British Journal of Nutrition, there is a link between lacking vitamin B12 and feeling depressed. Depression is a growing problem that comes with a huge human and socioeconomic price tag, which makes this study highly relevant. It is especially older people, public health servants, and politicians that should pay extra attention to vitamin B12 deficiencies and how to prevent them with simple and inexpensive means. It should also be noted that vegetarian and vegan diets, low stomach acid, and diabetes medication can increase the risk of having low levels of vitamin B12.

Oily fish and fish oil have a high content of the two omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), that are important for our brain, nervous system, intelligence, and mental health. Modern diets, however, are to blame for our lack of omega-3. A team of scientists from England has found that supplementation with EPA-rich fish oil for 26 weeks improves mental acuity and reaction time in healthy, young adults. This was not the case with DHA-rich oil fish oil, on the other hand. The scientists were surprised to find that EPA is more important than DHA for these cognitive skills.

Ageing is characterized by increased physical and mental frailty that reduces one’s ability to deal with various external stress factors. Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in oily fish and fish oil supplements are believed to prevent frailty through their immune-regulating and anti-inflammatory properties, but studies have shown conflicting results. Nonetheless, daily intake of two grams of omega-3 appears to reduce frailty. According to a large population study that is published in Frontiers in Nutrition, it is also important to include moderate quantities of high-quality omega-6.

- which lowers your stress threshold and threatens your health

Stress and magnesium deficiency are widespread problems in the general population. It’s a vicious cycle that increases the risk of fatigue, headaches, constipation, nervousness, insomnia, infections, depression, metabolic syndrome, and a number of physical and mental diseases. In a review article that is published in Nutrients, the authors look closer at magnesium’s key role in the body’s physiological stress response. They also address the fact that stress increases the need for magnesium. Moreover, nutrient-depleted soil, unhealthy diets, too much coffee, alcohol, and calcium plus certain types of medicine, intensive sport, menopause, and ageing increase the need for magnesium even more.

More and more people experience despair and depression. There can be several underlying factors but according to a large German population study, lack of vitamin D increases the risk of depressive symptoms. The scientists explain how vitamin reduces local inflammation in the brain, which increases the risk of developing a depression. That is why it is so important to get plenty of vitamin D all year round because the nutrient affects our mood and energy level in a variety of ways.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of both vitamin D deficiency and developing depression. According to a population study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, maintaining optimal vitamin D levels in the blood may reduce the risk of severe depression in these patients.

The diet’s content of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, and other vitamins has a positive impact on our mental and physical health and well-being Lack of vitamins may even remedy depression and chronic pain, according to a Japanese study of seniors. The number of seniors worldwide is increasing with more and more people being affected by physical and mental disease. Therefore, scientists want to take a closer look at the diet and its influence on quality of life measured by different accounts.

- especially in older adults

When blood levels of vitamin B12 are at the low end of the normal range, there's no guarantee that there is enough to support DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and nerve tissue maintenance. The official reference values may be particularly problematic for older adults, who, according to an American study, have an increased risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common chronic bowel diseases. Earlier studies show that supplementation with vitamin D can alleviate local symptoms by strengthening the immune defense and controlling inflammatory processes. In a new review article, scientists have looked closer at how supplements of vitamin D can also improve mental health in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel problems.

Lack of vitamin D is a global health problem that increases mortality rates. At this point, many studies have shown that having adequate amounts of vitamin D in the blood can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death. In a new review article that is published in Nutrients, the authors look closer at vitamin D supplementation to see if it can prevent stroke and speed up rehabilitation. It is essential that vitamin D supplements have good bioavailability so they can optimize blood levels of the nutrient.