The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    The effect of diet on depression in older people

    little guyClaire Williamson, Nutrition Scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation in London, has reviewed the evidence.

    Here are the highlights

    • In observational studies, poor micronutrient status (particularly folate and vitamin B12) is associated with an increased risk of depression in older people.
      • In observational studies the participants are followed and outcomes are measured, but there’s no attempt to influence the outcomes.
    • Supplementation with folic acid enhances anti-depressant drug treatment and there’s some evidence that supplementation with certain micronutrients may help improve depressive symptoms in older patients.
    • There”s interest in the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in depression. However, the evidence limited and difficult to evaluate due to considerable variability between studies

    The bottom line?

    The author concludes, “Research highlights the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle to help maintain good mental health into old age and health professionals should try to support older people in trying to achieve this.”

    12/13/09 20:07 JR

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