Depression
Depression is a clinical diagnosis, meaning lab tests are not used to identify depression. Symptoms vary from person to person and causes changes in thinking, feeling, behavior, and physical well-being, including difficulty concentrating and making decisions, forgetfulness, negative thoughts (e.g., pessimism, poor self-esteem, excessive guilt, self-criticism), self-destructive thoughts, sadness, loss of enjoyment or interest in activities, decreased motivation, apathy, lethargy, irritability, decreased libido, fatigue, and insomnia. The biochemical pathways for depression and energy production are well documented. Without being too complicated, the mood-lifting hormone serotonin is produced in the body by transforming the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin, and requires vitamin B6 and magnesium to do so. Other biochemical deficiencies that are associated with depression are iron-deficiency, hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, and more.
People with many other conditions may also be suffering from depression. Many cases of depression have been evaluated and effectively improved with this nutritional biochemical approach. Dr. Neustadt has charted more than 95% success rate with depression in his clinic. Other conditions with depression as a major component include Arthritis, Seizure Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Lyme Disease, Migraine Headaches and Multiple Sclerosis.
A 52-year old woman presented to Dr. Neustadt's clinic, Montana Integrative Medicine, with a life-long history of depression. She had suicidal thoughts as young as 5 years old, and attempted suicide once in the past. She also experienced insomnia and occasional migraine headaches. Her biochemical testing revealed functional deficiencies in nutrients required to generate energy and lift mood. She also complained of difficulty losing weight.
| Inability to burn fat for energy |
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| Decreased ability to use sugars to produce energy |
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| Functional vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B12, and folic acid deficiencies |
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| Deficiency in the amino acid methionine and low-normal threonine |
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| Food allergies |
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She was instructed to avoid the foods to which she was allergic, provided specific dietary recommendations and dietary supplements to give her body the nutrients it was lacking. Two weeks later, at her first follow-up appointment, she reported that she was following the treatment plan diligently, that her mood was "shockingly stable," and that she was not experiencing much depression or anxiety at all. After six weeks on the program she reported continued improvement in her depression and that her pants fit looser on her. After three months she reported complete resolution of her depression for the first time in her life.
A 26-year old woman presented with a three-year history of depression and fatigue. She also complained that colds would linger longer for her than in others, post-nasal drip "almost all the time," pre-menstrual migraine headaches for the past eight years, abdominal gas/bloating, brain fog, postural hypotension (getting light-headed when she stood up) "all the time," and an increase in 10 pounds of weight in the past couple of years, which she could not lose despite how much she exercised. She rated her energy at 3 out of 10, with 10 being best. Her MetaCT 400 test results revealed (1) deficiencies in all ten essential amino acids; (2) iron deficiency (low ferritin); (3) multiple mineral deficiencies; (4) elevated free radial damage to cell membranes (elevated lipid peroxides); (5) low vitamin D (risk factor for breast cancer); (6) low omega-6 series fatty acids; (7) functional vitamin deficiencies for energy production; (8) impaired liver detoxification pathways; (9) intestinal bacterial and fungal overgrowth; (10) and severe food intolerances to milk, casein (a protein in milk) and eggs (white and yolk), as well as moderate intolerance to ginger.
| Food allergies to dairy, eggs and ginger |
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| Amino acid deficiencies |
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| Low minerals |
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| Low serotonin production (low 5-Hydroxyindoleacetate), associated with depression. Serotonin production requires tryptophan, vitamin B6 and magnesium. |
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| Low Coenzyme Q10, a vitamin required for energy production, and an antioxidant |
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| Elevated free radical damage to cell membranes |
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| Vitamin D insufficiency |
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| Low omega-6 series, polyunsaturated fatty acids |
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| Intestinal fungal (candida) infection |
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This woman was placed on a comprehensive nutritional medicine program consisting of a combination of diet and nutraceuticals, and it was recommended that she receive counseling. After two weeks on the program she reported that her energy had already increased and that she no longer experienced post-nasal drip. After six weeks on the program she reported that her energy had increased to 9 out of 10, with 10 being best. She had no post-nasal drip, no migraine headaches, no abdominal bloating and she no longer got lightheaded when she stood up (postural hypotension). Her depression had also completely resolved.
