Nutrition in Mental Health Dr Sherri Roberts, M.B.,B.S.

Who am I? What is Nutritional Medicine? Who else practices it?

Mental Health Problems Depression Anxiety Anger issues and tantrums ADHD Schizophrenia Sleep disorders Autism Substance abuse

Nutrition and Mental Health Disorders - Overview Basics of nerve function Neurotransmitters Problems when deficiencies or excesses Nutrients needed How this plays out in good mental health

Nerve Cell Communication

Neurones working together!

Neurotransmitters Serotonin - the “feel good “ neurotransmitter - plays a role in learning, sleeping, memory and mood Dopamine - sometimes called the reward neurotransmitter - is involved in pleasure, motivation, motor function and the importance of stimuli or events GABA - the “calming down” neurotransmitter - inhibits nerve signals

Neurotransmitters Noradrenalin and Adrenalin - secreted in response to stress - underlies the fight or flight (or freeze!) response Acetyl Choline - important for memory, enthusiasm Endorphins - reduce pain, enable pleasure Glutamate - exact opposite to GABA - excitatory to nerves – eg the drug Ice, MSG

Deficiency or Excess of Neurotransmitters can lead to the Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders

Role of Nutrients All these neurotransmitters are synthesised in the brain The raw materials needed are: amino acids, minerals and vitamins Any imbalances in these nutrients can result in serious mental problems Would you run a Ferrari on E10 fuel and expect to win the Grand Prix??

Role of Nutrients PROTEIN To make Neurotransmitters, you need protein The building blocks for proteins are amino acids Two important amino acids are Trytophan and Tyrosine Serotonin is made from tryptophan and Melatonin – the sleep hormone – is made from serotonin

Role of Nutrients Dopamine is made from tyrosine Noradrenalin is made from Dopamine and therefore also needs tyrosine Glutamate is made from glutamic acid GABA is also made from glutamate and therefore from glutamic acid

Role of Nutrients Foods containing these amino acids include Milk and cheese, soy Meat and chicken Grains - red or brown rice, wheat, corn, barley, and oats Oily fish – cod, tuna, sardine, mackerel, snapper, salmon Nuts, Seeds and legumes - Peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, almonds, Veges - Asparagus, eggplant, spinach, broccoli, green peas, kelp, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, cauliflower, potatoes, and cucumbers

Role of Nutrients VITAMINS and MINERALS Needed in very small amounts Must be present for any chemical reaction to take place in the body Deficiency results in reduced activity Critical nutrients for mental health include Zinc, B vitamins especially B12, B6 and P5P, Magnesium and Calcium, Vitamin C, Copper and Folate

Role of Nutrients To make serotonin and melatonin from tryptophan, you need B6 To make Dopamine and GABA you also need B6 To make NorAdrenalin from Dopamine you need copper and Vitamin C To break down Dopamine and NorAdrenalin you need Folate and B12 To release neurotransmitters you need zinc

Role of Other Nutrients Also critical is Vitamin D, involved with every receptor in the brain And Essential Fatty Acids – omega 3s – DHA for structure of the brain especially in ADHD, and EPA especially for depression and bipolar disorder

Nerve Cell Communication

Role of Nutrients Any imbalance in these nutrients can lead to serious mental health problems

Nutrients that May Have a Negative Effect Anything that stimulates Glutamate eg MSG, additives in bread (propionates) some colouring agents Drugs – such as cannabis, “Ice” (an amphetamine) Narcotics Alcohol Too much sugar Neuropeptides – eg casein(dairy) and gluten

Walsh Research Institute And Pfeiffer Protocols

Remember? If B6 deficiency then can't make Serotonin, Dopamine or GABA If Zinc deficiency – can't transport neurotransmitters or release them If excess copper, then make too much adrenalin If excess copper then will have low zinc If low B12 or folate then unable to methylate (too complicated for this talk!!)

Chemical Imbalances Found Zinc deficiency Copper overload B6 deficiency Folate deficiency or overload Pyrrole Disorder Toxins – heavy metal overload Undermethylation Overmethylation Essential Fatty Acids Glucose dysregulation

ADHD Elevated Cu (68%) Insufficient ceruloplasmin (92%) Zinc depletion (96%) Methylation disorder (55%) Pyrrole Disorder (30%) Malabsorption (11%)

Assessment Questionnaire – with history and tick box of personality and behavioural traits Blood test and Urine test – at recognised pathology rooms Diagnosis of Biotypes Individualised Prescription – sent to compounding pharmacy

Treatment Advanced Nutrient Prescriptions – individualised to the person's own clinical picture, traits and biochemistry Combination of vitamins and minerals in high doses, and sometimes with added calcium and magnesium, SAMe and Evening Primrose Oil Sometimes small doses Tyrosine to aid concentration and focus Sometimes addition of chromium to stabilise sugar fluctuations

Information re Biomedical Approach Mindd Foundation “Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain” by Dr William Walsh

The best diet? One that has : high quality protein, whole grains wide variety of coloured veges and fruit for antioxidants, Full of healthy fats – omega 3s, some saturated fats like coconut oil, nuts and seeds – and low in unhealthy fats Organic where possible for better mineral and vitamin content Avoiding additives, colourings and preservatives ?The Mediterranean Diet?

In Summary then: Current medical treatment involves the use of drugs that work at the synapse Effectiveness will be reduced if there are nutritional deficiencies Such deficiencies are rampant in the community due to poor diets, other demands on nutrition such as growth or illness, stress and other drugs ( eg OCP, antiepileptic meds) Many people have genetic variations which predispose them to nutrient imbalances

Psychological Therapies The ideal situation: A brain where the nerve pathways, connections and chemical messengers are all functioning at their optimum levels Adequate nutrient supply and/or medications BUT Still need to be make new pathways for thinking and delete old ones that are unhelpful – which is where the psychologists and counsellors come in!

The best overall management of mental health problems is a combination of : the right nutrients appropriately prescribed medications, counselling and psychological therapies, exercise good social and family support A sound faith in God

THANKYOU!