Depression and Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is a potentially lethal combination obesity, insulin resistance (or type II diabetes), high blood pressure, high blood triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol levels (the more protective type of cholesterol)... leading to Coronary Heart Disease. It is epidemic in developed countries, especially the United States and Britain.

Not surprisingly, depression is prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes. Multiple studies demonstrate a powerful relationship between both Metabolic Syndrome/diabetes and heart disease, as well as and depression and heart disease.

Depression seems the obvious culprit. We are all familiar with the stereotype of the depressed person abandoning all exercise and retreating to the bedroom to watch T.V. and gorge on junk food. The depression sufferer gains weight, becomes diabetic or pre-diabetic, and the lack of exercise and poor diet hastens arthrosclerosis.

Though there is much obvious truth to the stereotype, it may also be true that Metabolic Syndrome itself leads to depression. Studies in Finland and the U.S. over seven years show that not only are depressed people more likely to get Metabolic Syndrome, but patients with Metabolic Syndrome are more likely to become anxious and depressed.

Some of the same underlying causes are likely to be shared by both diseases. Researchers speculate that the most likely candidates to cause both are cortisol, homocysteine, and inflammation (marked by c-reactive protein)... each of which is implicated in both heart disease and anxiety related depression.

If these are some of the underlying processes of both diseases, then the bad news is not only that having depression can more easily lead to Metabolic Syndrome and heart disease... and that having Metabolic Syndrome is likely to lead to depression... but also that having any of these conditions will make the other conditions worse, in a process of degenerative and potentially lethal biochemical feedback.

The Good News

The good news is that a number of highly effective, inexpensive, and widely accessible alternative treatments can save the day.

• Exercise has been demonstrated to be successful in treating both Metabolic Syndrome and anxiety/depression. 
• Simple B vitamins have been proven to alleviate some of the most destructive of biochemical problems:
  • Folic Acid can lower homocysteine. Most nutritionists would recommend 1600 mg. a day with some B12.
  • Vitamin B6 can lower inflammation and c-reactive protein levels.
• DHEA in amounts as small as 5 mg. can stop the excessive release of cortisol.
• Phosphatidylserine has been shown to reduce blood levels of cortisol, and has the added benefit of improving memory and cognitive functions.
• Several herbal products can short circuit the build-up of cortisol and the belly fat that sometimes mark both depression and Metabolic Syndrome. These include:
  • L-Theanine.
  • Magnolia and Philodendron (Magnolia and Philodendron are sold together as Relora)

  These herbs have impressive anti-anxiety qualities as well.

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