Moves are afoot in the UK to add folic acid to bread in order to cut depression. The supplement has long been popular with pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant as it is strongly believed to safeguard foetuses against condition such as spinabifida. It has also been suggested that it can help prevent strokes.
Now research by York University in the UK has suggested that folic acid can help the brain produce the feel good neurotransmitter Serotonin. Although it is not necessarily believed that low folate levels in the body cause depression, it does seem that there is some link between them.
So, now various questions arise:
Will the proposed additions to bread be of sufficient quantity to prevent depression in a significant number of people?
Will this help depressed people recover from their illness?
Should depressed people start taking a folic acid supplement?
Would doing this effect any medication that a sufferer might already be taking?
Might folic acid also have an effect on other mood disorders such as anxiety?
The last question is an interesting point. Common sense suggests that anything that has an effect on Serotonin levels would be useful for any issue that was effected by low Serotonin. However, some SSRI anti-depressants are clearly prescribed for depression but not anxiety. It may turn out that some people’s anxiety can be improved while others will be unhelped by this move.
Answers to the above questions on a postcard please!!!!
