Reducing Anger and Depression with Zinc Intake.

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Reducing Anger and Depression with Zinc Intake.

Depression has been classified as a mood disorder or affective disorder. Mood is defined as a pervasive and sustained emotion that, in the extreme, markedly affects a person's perception of the world and ability to adequately function in society. Mood disorders are among the most common encountered in clinical practice and are divided into depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.

Depression is a common disorder that affects approximately 5 percent of the population at any given time, and about 30 percent of adults will suffer from depression over a lifetime. Commonly thought of as a disorder of young to middle adulthood, with an average age of onset in the late 20's, depression is also recognized as a common psychiatric illness in the elderly. Women are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression than men.

Zinc is necessary for the functioning of over 300 different enzymes and, as such, it plays a vital role in an enormous number of biological processes. Zinc is widely distributed in microorganisms, plants, and animals. In humans, the highest concentrations of zinc are found in the liver, pancreas, kidneys, bone, and muscles. Zinc is highly concentrated in parts of the eye, prostate gland, sperm, skin, hair, and nails. Cooking acidic foods in galvanized cookware used to be a possible source of excess zinc intake. The widespread use of stainless steel and plastic materials to prepare and store foods has largely eliminated this problem.

A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated whether zinc supplementation could improve mood disorders. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved 30 women who were placed into two equal groups. They were given either a multivitamin (MV) or a MV and 7 mg zinc every day for 10 weeks. The results were the women who took MV and zinc showed a significant reduction in anger and depression and a significant increase in blood levels of zinc in comparison to the women who only took the MV. The researchers concluded by stating that their results suggested zinc supplementation could be used to reduce anger and depression.

¹Sawada T, Yokoi K. Effect of zinc supplementation on mood states in young women: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. Mar2010;64(3):331-3.