Soltalk May 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: 95 252 6775 40