Various micronutrient-related factors are associated with increased risk of psychiatric illness, and micronutrients play essential roles in an array of brain functions that have been implicated in mood lability. Micronutrient inadequacy may impair one or more of these critical brain functions and result in psychiatric symptoms. The micronutrient-mood regulation mechanisms discussed in this review are not exhaustive, nor are they mutually exclusive; in fact, they may be complementary. For example, neurotransmitter production and regulation, key components of the monoamine or chemical imbalance hypothesis of mood disorders, may work in tandem with neurite outgrowth and gene expression of neurotrophic factors, elements of the network hypothesis; these hypotheses appear to be entirely complementary.²⁸

clinical trials

nutrient & genetic factors in brain function

nutrient-dependent brain functions

references