Take the Resilience Quiz

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Antioxidants’ Role in Alleviating Depression and Anxiety

Antioxidants’ Role in Alleviating Depression and Anxiety

anxiety depression nutrition Jan 06, 2022

Summary by Carolyn Denton, MA, LN

Stress in day-to-day life is not considered a disorder clinically, but when stressors are continuous over a period of time symptoms of anxiety and depression can arise affecting mood, sleep and thinking.

Stress places an additional demand on the body in terms of nutrition. To combat the biochemical changes that occur as a result of stress, there is a built-in defense system supported by antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E (ACE).

A study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry in 2012 was conducted to find out whether individuals being treated for generalized anxiety disorder and/or depression in the clinic of a private hospital had different levels of antioxidants in their blood serum than those who were not suffering from generalized anxiety disorder or depression. Furthermore, the study was designed to determine if supplementation with vitamins high in antioxidants (A, C, and E) would have a positive impact on severity of symptoms reported.

Eighty subjects, ages 20-60, were screened for serum levels of ACE before and after supplementation. Results showed that before supplementation, individuals with generalized anxiety and depression had significantly lower levels of ACE in their blood serum compared to the control group, which had no diagnosis of anxiety or depression. After six weeks of supplementation with A, C, and E vitamins, these individuals had increased levels of antioxidants in their blood, and a significant reduction in anxiety and depression.

Summary taken from: Role of antioxidants in generalized anxiety disorder and depression, Indian J Psychiatry. 2012 Jul-Sep; 54(3): 244–247.

Tired All the Time? Meet The Three Energy Thieves

May 29, 2024

Resilient Mental Health: Consider Brain Chemistry

May 21, 2024

Resilience Training and Our Roots of Resilience Series

Apr 17, 2024

RESILIENCE IS YOUR NATURAL STATE

Discover your Resilience Type with the Resilience Quiz

After completing the quiz, you can get your free tailored mini-course, full of integrative practices and supplement ideas to help you reclaim your most resilient self.

Learn more
STAY CONNECTED

Helpful support delivered right to your inbox.

We’ll make your journey to resilience easier. Join our weekly newsletter for integrative tools to help you build on your strengths.

We are spam-free!

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. See our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.