Soltalk April 2020 | Page 42

HealthTalk
Doctor’s notes
Dr Rik Heymans is a general practitioner in Nerja and writes
on developments in the world of medicine
Another study showed that the diet previously shown to
reduce hypertension and stroke risk may also help ward off
depression: participants who most closely adhered to the low-
sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
were 11% less likely to become depressed over time than those
least adherent to the diet, the study found. These results
suggest that the DASH diet may have the “dual benefit” of
protecting against cardiovascular disease and helping to boost
mood.
Diet and mental health
Although diet can influence mental health and cognitive
function, evidence of benefit for many specific diets is actually
quite weak, a new review suggests. In the “most up-to-date
overview of the new field of nutritional psychiatry,”
investigators found strong evidence that following a ketogenic
diet of high fat and low carbohydrates may reduce seizures in
children with epilepsy. They also confirmed that the
Mediterranean diet guards against depression and anxiety.
Childhood abuse and mood disorders
In addition, there is a well known and strong link between
vitamin B12 deficiency and an increased risk of fatigue,
depression, and memory problems. However, evidence of any
efficacy of vitamin D supplements or any nutrient in mitigating
symptoms of autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) is inconclusive. Large population-based studies have
also suggested links between mental health and specific
nutrients, but they often do not demonstrate cause, benefit, or
remedy, the current investigators note.
Early life adversity including neglect and physical, emotional,
and sexual abuse is the single biggest risk factor for psychiatric
disorders, new research suggests. Investigators at Dell Medical
School in Austin, Texas, found that childhood maltreatment is
“by far” the biggest contributing factor leading to impaired
health in adults. Physically, early abuse could well be
associated with reduced life expectancy due to higher risk for
heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and certain forms of
cancer. In terms of the psychiatric impact, maltreatment
increases the risk for depression, drug abuse, suicide, alcohol
abuse, and it also worsens the course of all psychiatric
disorders that have been looked at. Shockingly, estimates show
that about one in four children will experience abuse or
neglect, although this might well be an underestimate as most
cases of maltreatment go unreported. We are however still a
long way off understanding why not all people exposed to
childhood trauma develop a mood disorder. Environmental
factors, as well as genes, are likely to mediate the relationship
between childhood abuse and mood disorders.
The review showed overall that there are strong correlations
between a healthy diet and better mental health, especially
when there is an increased consumption of fresh fruits and
vegetables.
Melatonin: not for jet lag
Melatonin should not be prescribed for treating jet lag,
according to a review of available evidence. The latest expert
review concluded that melatonin appeared to have only a very
modest effect on symptoms of jet lag compared with placebo.
It also noted the occurrence of side effects of melatonin
treatment, including headache, nausea, drowsiness, and
sedation.
Furthermore, melatonin could increase seizure frequency in
people with epilepsy, and was not recommended for people
with autoimmune diseases, severe renal impairment, or
moderate or severe hepatic impairment. Melatonin is a
prescription-only medicine in the UK, unlike other countries,
including the US. In the US, where melatonin is available over-
the-counter, its use has dramatically increased. A 2017 study in
the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that over-the-
counter demand had more than doubled in the US between
2007 and 2012. In 2012, an estimated 3.1 million Americans
were taking melatonin. As with so many natural medications,
they are usually not as safe as the marketing claims, and
definitely not in the dosage prescribed by some. It baffles me
that there is a resistance to “big Pharma” (often rightly so), but
none of this reluctance where “natural Pharma” is concerned
(with usually far more expensive products, which have not
undergone the same rigorous testing and without proper
studies).
© Dr RIK HEYMANS
c/ Angustias 24, Nerja
Tel: [phone]
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