Intake of selected nutraceuticals and the clinical condition of patients with mental disorders

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this research was to assess the impact of nutraceutical intake on the mental condition of patients affected by depression and schizophrenia. Material and methods: The research covered a group of 156 patients with depression and 116 patients with schizophrenia ranging in age from 18 to 65 years. The clinical condition of the patients was assessed on the basis of: the age of onset, average number of episodes per year of the disease and the average duration of the disease. A quantitative assessment of diet by means of a 24-hour dietary recall was carried out. Results: It was stated that choline was a nutritional factor that has a significant impact on the clinical condition of depression. The study also revealed that the nutritional factors having a significant impact on the reduction of the number of schizophrenia episodes are: tyrosine, vitamin B1, B9, magnesium and copper, whereas the increase in the number of episodes was related to phenylalanine intake. Conclusions: Patients with mental disorders require individual nutritional education and control over the nutrient intake in their diet and their concentration in the blood serum. If the patient is unable to balance their diet, supplementation with proper preparations should be considered.