Two researchers specializing in exploring the connection between nutrition and mental health recently published a column online regarding the the effect that nutrients have on medications.
In their article, Drs. Bonnie Kaplan and Julia Rucklidge point out a 2008 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter that had evaluated nutrients with the potential to boost the impact of psychiatric medications.
Their response to the article is telling:
Clearly, the two of us writing this . . . are not on the same wavelength with the philosophy that boosting the impact of psych meds is the primary goal of nutrient supplementation!
They further highlight that they have shared several studies in their column that illustrate multinutrient treatments on their own can ameliorate symptoms, reducing or eliminating psychiatric medication altogether.
As part of their response, they point out that medication is the 4th–6th leading cause of death among Americans less than 20 years ago.
The reference cited by most is a bit ‘dated’ by scientific terms (it is 1998), yet seems to be the most thorough, in part because it presented a picture of [Adverse Drug Reactions] that encompassed 30 years in the U.S. (Lazarou et al., 1998). During that time, the number of deaths from ADRs remained pretty stable and high: ADRs were between the fourth and sixth leading cause of death in America. This statistic refers to *all* medications, but as the authors noted, serious ADRs from psychiatric medications were disproportionately high relative to other medications. . . . So the bottom line is this: the proper, accurate use of medications, especially psychiatric medications, was the 4th–6th leading cause of death in America as of a few years ago.
Since Lazarou and his fellow researchers published their study, dozens of other studies have been published on EMPowerplus alone and its effect on mental health. (Never mind the fact that dozens more have researched the connection between general diet and mental health.) Kaplan and Rucklidge even touch on a few of those studies, using them as examples to why we should be exploring the role of nutrients in improving mental health naturally rather than as a way to boost artificial means that simply mask the issue.
So we would like to request that no further public funds be expended on ways to use nutrients to boost the impact of medications. . . . How much better it would be to follow these steps: a) give everyone lots of the entire spectrum of nutrients that our brains need every single day; b) while doing so, decrease (or eliminate) all meds; and then c) if and only if the nutrients and other lifestyle modifications were insufficient, begin to add medication to see if it confers any further benefit.
Their conclusion sums it up well: lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, and social support, should be the primary treatment, and medication, if necessary, should be the alternative treatment.
We have to agree.