- The podcast episode discusses the rationale for micronutrient supplementation in mental illnesses.
- Some people inherit genetic variants that impact nutrient metabolism, leading to a need for higher amounts of certain nutrients.
- Supplementing diets with vitamins or cofactors could increase the intracellular concentration of these cofactors and activate cofactor-dependent enzymes.
- For example, patients with ADHD may benefit from omega-3 supplementation due to a genetic vulnerability to omega-3 deficiency.
- The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) may not be sufficient for optimal mental health, as it was primarily focused on physical ailments and does not consider mental health symptoms.
- Environmental factors such as pesticides and high-yield crops may be reducing the nutrient density of our food.
- A good diet alone may not be enough to optimize nutritional factors related to mental health, and genetic factors should be considered.

Did you know that your genes could affect how your brain processes vital nutrients? In this episode, we delve into fascinating research on micronutrient supplementation for mental disorders, such as ADHD. Discover how our genetic makeup might dictate our nutrient needs and how this can influence mental health outcomes.

Faculty: Amelia Villagomez, M.D.
 Host: Richard Seeber, M.D.

  * Learn more about our memberships here
  * Earn 0.75 CME: Broad-Spectrum Micronutrients (BSM) for Mental Health: Context for Considering Micronutrient Treatment
  * Rationale for Micronutrient Supplementation in Mental Illness

Hi, and welcome to the Psychopharmacology Institute podcast.

Richard Sieber, and remember that this podcast is your go-to place for getting the latest insights and clinical pearls in psychopharmacology.

Today's the second episode of our series on broad spectrum micronutrients for mental health.

Today, we continue our exploration into the world of nutrition and mental health, focusing this time on the rationale for micronutrient supplementation in mental illnesses.

Did you know that some people inherit genes that change the way their brains process vital nutrients when compared to the general population?

This means that people who inherit genetic variants which impact nutrient metabolism might need higher amounts of certain nutrients versus the general population.

You might imagine your brain as an engine, with enzymes working hard to keep everything running smoothly.

But for some, people might need more fuel or cofactors to keep enzymatic gears turning at their best.

Thus, it's been hypothesized that supplementing patients' diets with vitamins or other needed cofactors could increase the intracellular concentration of these cofactors and thereby help activate cofactor-dependent enzymes.

For instance, it seems that 1 of the genetic factors of ADHD may cause a vulnerability to long-chain omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

It seems that such patients with ADHD could benefit from omega-3 supplementation.

Emilia Villagomez, who is an adjunct clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona.

If you become a member of the Psychopharmacology Institute, you'll have access to more information not available on this podcast feed.

Also, you could earn 0.5 CME credits for this lecture.

Also, did you know that this video lecture could be downloaded in PowerPoint format?

Well, now you do, and you should give it a try.

So, without further ado, let's take a listen now to Dr.

A good diet may not be enough to optimize nutritional factors related to mental health.

Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling in 1968 hypothesized that what is probably inherited in mental disorders are genes that regulate brain metabolism of essential nutrients.

As a result, some people have a congenital need for more than typical amounts of cofactors for optimal enzymatic activity.

As we discussed previously, enzymes combined with cofactors, in other words vitamins and minerals, result in the transformation of chemical A to chemical B.

Polymorphisms in a gene can result in a decreased binding affinity for the cofactors, which in turn lowers the reaction rate.

Bruce Ames has hypothesized that adding vitamins at high doses could increase the intracellular cofactor concentration and thereby activate a defective enzyme.

In his 2002 paper cited below, he identified that, "...about 50 human genetic diseases due to defective enzymes can be remedied or ameliorated by the administration of high doses of the vitamin component of the corresponding cofactors, which at least partially restores enzymatic activity.

Eugene Arnold has written about how certain individuals with ADHD benefit from omega-3 supplementation.

He says, the high inheritability of ADHD is multifactorial, of course, but it seems conceivable that 1 of the genetic factors, or more precisely, 1 of the gene-by-environment interactions, may be vulnerability to long-chain omega-3 deficiency.

Is it possible that some individuals with mental disorders also have a vulnerability to micronutrient deficiency because of polymorphisms of various enzymes and that potentially adding in micronutrients would increase enzymatic activity resulting in improvement in symptoms?

We will examine this hypothesis and research supporting it shortly.

I want to take a moment to talk about the RDA or Recommended Dietary Allowance.

The RDAs were initially established during World War II to determine in a time of possible shortage what levels of nutrients would prevent symptomatic nutrient deficiency in most people.

And by most people, specifically 97.5% of people, not all people.

If 100 people were to get exactly the RDA level of vitamin C, then 2.5 of that 100 could be at a risk for developing scurvy, for example.

Additionally, mental health symptoms were not considered when developing RDA values.

They were focused mainly on physical ailments.

So RDAs may not give us the best picture of what is optimal for mental health.

The Institute of Medicine has written that intake at the level of the RDI or AI, which is adequate intake, would not necessarily be expected to replete individuals previously undernourished, nor would it be adequate for disease states marked by increased requirements.

Given the high metabolic needs of the brain, often the first signs of dietary deficiency are psychological.

Some individuals are genetically predisposed to require greater amounts of micronutrients for optimal mental functioning, and nutrient intakes at the recommended dietary allowance may be insufficient for some individuals based on polymorphism differences in enzymes, receptors, and other cell organelles.

Another problem that compounds the issue of micronutrient insufficiency is that the nutrient density of plants has diminished over the past 50 years.

This study looked at the mineral content of 20 fruits and 20 vegetables in the 1980s compared to the 1930s.

There were several marked reductions in mineral content.

The mineral content of fruits are illustrated in light blue and vegetables in dark blue.

There were statistically significant reductions in the levels of calcium, magnesium, copper, and sodium in vegetables and magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium in fruit.

The water content increased significantly and dry matter decreased significantly in fruit.

Well, what might account for these changes?

On the environmental front, the use of herbicides and pesticides that diminish essential nutrients in crops through chelation of minerals, an emphasis on high-yield crops at the expense of nutrient density, and even the increase in atmospheric CO2 have all been identified as contributors to the reduced nutrient density of plants.

Key Points There is strong worldwide evidence that poor nutrient intake from diet is epidemic in the US, is correlated with mental health symptoms, is a risk factor for the subsequent emergence of mental health symptoms.

There is strong worldwide evidence that poor nutrient intake from diet, when corrected, results in improved mental health.

What we eat matters for mental health, and most Americans are not consuming sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Dia Gomez who guided us in a fascinating exploration into how our genes can influence nutrient metabolism and potentially affect mental health disorders and the rationale for micronutrient supplementation in mental illness.

Nutrient intake recommendations might not be sufficient for everyone due to genetic differences in the population.

Some people might require higher amounts of micronutrients for optimal mental functioning.

We discussed the Recommended Daily Allowance or RDA.

Many people perceive the RDA as an ideal daily nutrient intake.

Well, the RDA, or the level of adequate intake, would not necessarily be expected to replete individuals previously undernourished.

Nor would it be an adequate daily allowance for people who may, by virtue of their genetics, have an increased daily requirement for a given nutrient versus the general population.

We also discussed how environmental factors like pesticides and an emphasis on growing high-yield crops might be reducing the nutrient density of our food.

The key takeaway is that a good diet alone may not be enough to optimize nutritional factors related to our mental health.

We need to consider the potential influence of genetic factors on nutrient metabolism as well.

Remember that by becoming a member of the Psychopharmacology Institute, you could earn 0.75 CMU credits for the lecture titled Broad-Spectrum Micronutrients for Mental Health.

Also remember that exclusive content from this lecture is not covered in this podcast feed, but is available for members.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please help us reach more clinicians like yourself by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or rating us on Spotify.

I'd like to thank you all for tuning into our discussion today.

Richard Seber, and I look forward to seeing you in our next episode.


Speaker 0: Hi, and welcome to the Psychopharmacology Institute podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Sieber, and remember that this podcast is your go-to place for getting the latest insights and clinical pearls in psychopharmacology. Today's the second episode of our series on broad spectrum micronutrients for mental health. Today, we continue our exploration into the world of nutrition and mental health, focusing this time on the rationale for micronutrient supplementation in mental illnesses.

Did you know that some people inherit genes that change the way their brains process vital nutrients when compared to the general population? This means that people who inherit genetic variants which impact nutrient metabolism might need higher amounts of certain nutrients versus the general population. You might imagine your brain as an engine, with enzymes working hard to keep everything running smoothly. But for some, people might need more fuel or cofactors to keep enzymatic gears turning at their best. Thus, it's been hypothesized that supplementing patients' diets with vitamins or other needed cofactors could increase the intracellular concentration of these cofactors and thereby help activate cofactor-dependent enzymes.

For instance, it seems that 1 of the genetic factors of ADHD may cause a vulnerability to long-chain omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. It seems that such patients with ADHD could benefit from omega-3 supplementation. So why don't we learn more about this? Today's faculty is Dr. Emilia Villagomez, who is an adjunct clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona.

If you become a member of the Psychopharmacology Institute, you'll have access to more information not available on this podcast feed. Also, you could earn 0.5 CME credits for this lecture. Also, did you know that this video lecture could be downloaded in PowerPoint format? Well, now you do, and you should give it a try. So, without further ado, let's take a listen now to Dr.

Villa-Gomez.

Speaker 1: A good diet may not be enough to optimize nutritional factors related to mental health. Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling in 1968 hypothesized that what is probably inherited in mental disorders are genes that regulate brain metabolism of essential nutrients. As a result, some people have a congenital need for more than typical amounts of cofactors for optimal enzymatic activity. As we discussed previously, enzymes combined with cofactors, in other words vitamins and minerals, result in the transformation of chemical A to chemical B. Polymorphisms in a gene can result in a decreased binding affinity for the cofactors, which in turn lowers the reaction rate.

Dr. Bruce Ames has hypothesized that adding vitamins at high doses could increase the intracellular cofactor concentration and thereby activate a defective enzyme. In his 2002 paper cited below, he identified that, "...about 50 human genetic diseases due to defective enzymes can be remedied or ameliorated by the administration of high doses of the vitamin component of the corresponding cofactors, which at least partially restores enzymatic activity. Along the same vein, Dr. Eugene Arnold has written about how certain individuals with ADHD benefit from omega-3 supplementation.

He says, the high inheritability of ADHD is multifactorial, of course, but it seems conceivable that 1 of the genetic factors, or more precisely, 1 of the gene-by-environment interactions, may be vulnerability to long-chain omega-3 deficiency. Is it possible that some individuals with mental disorders also have a vulnerability to micronutrient deficiency because of polymorphisms of various enzymes and that potentially adding in micronutrients would increase enzymatic activity resulting in improvement in symptoms? We will examine this hypothesis and research supporting it shortly. I want to take a moment to talk about the RDA or Recommended Dietary Allowance. The RDAs were initially established during World War II to determine in a time of possible shortage what levels of nutrients would prevent symptomatic nutrient deficiency in most people.

And by most people, specifically 97.5% of people, not all people. If 100 people were to get exactly the RDA level of vitamin C, then 2.5 of that 100 could be at a risk for developing scurvy, for example. Additionally, mental health symptoms were not considered when developing RDA values. They were focused mainly on physical ailments. So RDAs may not give us the best picture of what is optimal for mental health.

The Institute of Medicine has written that intake at the level of the RDI or AI, which is adequate intake, would not necessarily be expected to replete individuals previously undernourished, nor would it be adequate for disease states marked by increased requirements. Given the high metabolic needs of the brain, often the first signs of dietary deficiency are psychological. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to require greater amounts of micronutrients for optimal mental functioning, and nutrient intakes at the recommended dietary allowance may be insufficient for some individuals based on polymorphism differences in enzymes, receptors, and other cell organelles. Another problem that compounds the issue of micronutrient insufficiency is that the nutrient density of plants has diminished over the past 50 years. This study looked at the mineral content of 20 fruits and 20 vegetables in the 1980s compared to the 1930s.

There were several marked reductions in mineral content. The mineral content of fruits are illustrated in light blue and vegetables in dark blue. There were statistically significant reductions in the levels of calcium, magnesium, copper, and sodium in vegetables and magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium in fruit. The water content increased significantly and dry matter decreased significantly in fruit. Well, what might account for these changes?

On the environmental front, the use of herbicides and pesticides that diminish essential nutrients in crops through chelation of minerals, an emphasis on high-yield crops at the expense of nutrient density, and even the increase in atmospheric CO2 have all been identified as contributors to the reduced nutrient density of plants. Key Points There is strong worldwide evidence that poor nutrient intake from diet is epidemic in the US, is correlated with mental health symptoms, is a risk factor for the subsequent emergence of mental health symptoms. There is strong worldwide evidence that poor nutrient intake from diet, when corrected, results in improved mental health. A good diet may not be enough to optimize nutritional factors related to mental health. What we eat matters for mental health, and most Americans are not consuming sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Speaker 0: That was Dr. Dia Gomez who guided us in a fascinating exploration into how our genes can influence nutrient metabolism and potentially affect mental health disorders and the rationale for micronutrient supplementation in mental illness. Alright, here's what we learned today. Nutrient intake recommendations might not be sufficient for everyone due to genetic differences in the population. Some people might require higher amounts of micronutrients for optimal mental functioning.

We discussed the Recommended Daily Allowance or RDA. Many people perceive the RDA as an ideal daily nutrient intake. But is it really? Well, the RDA, or the level of adequate intake, would not necessarily be expected to replete individuals previously undernourished. Nor would it be an adequate daily allowance for people who may, by virtue of their genetics, have an increased daily requirement for a given nutrient versus the general population.

We also discussed how environmental factors like pesticides and an emphasis on growing high-yield crops might be reducing the nutrient density of our food. The key takeaway is that a good diet alone may not be enough to optimize nutritional factors related to our mental health. We need to consider the potential influence of genetic factors on nutrient metabolism as well. Remember that by becoming a member of the Psychopharmacology Institute, you could earn 0.75 CMU credits for the lecture titled Broad-Spectrum Micronutrients for Mental Health. Also remember that exclusive content from this lecture is not covered in this podcast feed, but is available for members.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please help us reach more clinicians like yourself by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or rating us on Spotify. We really appreciate your help. I'd like to thank you all for tuning into our discussion today. This is Dr. Richard Seber, and I look forward to seeing you in our next episode.

Bye now.

See all Psychopharmacology and Psychiatry Updates transcripts on Googlepodcasts

How Nutrient Metabolism Influences Mental Health