MELBOURNE, Australia – Researchers at a leading Australian university have discovered that supplementing women with zinc and iron can boost mood and cognitive abilities.
The study was published in the journal Nutrients.
Researchers examined the positive mood and cognitive effects of increasing iron and zinc intakes in women 12 to 55 years old and found that increasing iron with supplements improved memory and intellectual ability while increasing zinc via supplements improved depressive symptoms in women who were depressed or had low zinc levels.
The research on these nutrients play an important role in the mental health of women and have lead researchers to conclude they may also be useful in treating cognitive decline in old age.
Due to the lack of studies specifically on zinc, researchers are urging that more be done in this area.
Also, iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient problems in women worldwide.
Dr. Adam Graves, ND, LAc, practices at Colorado Natural Medicine in Castle Rock, Colorado. He said he thinks there should be more done on this topic.
“This is a great study that shows that nutrients and vitamins should be considered when mood and memory issues are occurring in women,” Graves said. “Too frequently women are prescribed antidepressants when it could simple be a matter of low zinc and iron.
“With more studies like this, hopefully, people will feel empowered to ask their doctor to test and treat with nutrients before considering anti-depressant medication,” he said.