Mood disorders are also called affective disorders. Mood disorders have a major economic impact through associated health care costs as well as lost work productivity. A mood is an emotion or feeling that lasts a long time. Moods affect how we act. Your mood also affects how you feel about yourself and life in general. Mood disorder problems may be caused by changes in your life. Chemical changes in your body can also cause a mood disorder. Moods range from feeling sad to feeling happy.

All vitamins and minerals are involved in one or more biochemical pathways and/or physiological actions which influence the function of the human brain. Most vitamin and mineral deficiencies result in psychiatric symptoms in a significant number of people, and in people with psychiatric diagnoses these deficiencies are often associated with more severe symptoms and poorer outcome from conventional treatment.

Symptoms of mood disorders - depression

Symptoms of depression include persistent sad or empty mood, loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, decreased energy, fatigue, poor appetite with weight loss, increased appetite with weight gain, altered sleeping patterns, physical hyperactivity or inactivity, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability to think or concentrate, aches and pains, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Deficiency of vitamin leads to sleeplessness, tiredness, confused state of mind and finally into depression. Data of research suggests that people who have low levels of Vitamin B (folateare) are more likely to be depressed than those who have normal levels.One group study discovered that aged people with lack of vitamin and depression who took supplements of thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6 with antidepressant medicine proved more improvement than those taking medicine alone.

Vitamin B appears to help relieve stress. There are probably enough B group vitamins in most of the food that we eat, but if you want to look into natural alternatives for better health then consult your doctor or natro-path for advice on taking this vitamin.

The types and amounts of dietary fat we eat greatly influence how these neurotransmitters communicate and function with each other. This makes sense when you realize that 60% of our brain matter is comprised of fat. Omega 3 fatty acids (see chart, foods rich in omega 3) primarily found in salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines, flaxseed and walnuts have a strong antidepressant effect. They make it easier for receptors on the brain cells to process different mood-related signals and also maintain healthy brain cell activity. Just two servings per week of omega 3 fish sources can boost omega 3 levels in the brain

A lack of thiamine can also lead to a lack of energy as well as to being sluggish all the time. When ignored and not taken care of immediately, it can actually lead to deep fatigue, anxiety, depression and even to having suicidal tendencies. It can also bring on insomnia, which can contribute to the worsening of each and every one of these symptoms. Serious deficiency in niacin has been clinically associated with various mental symptoms like cognitive slowness which concerns the processing of information, dementia, anxiety and psychosis.