Clinical Depression and Discovering What is Causing it.
Author: Helena Ederveen

Clinical Depression is a type of depression in which a
person becomes angry, irritable and sad for a prolonged
period of time.

Physical symptoms include weight-loss, insomnia and
fatigue. It is beyond the persons will to get out of such a
state.

Therefore it is very important to properly determine the
cause and treatment for such a disorder. Research has
established that checking iron imbalance can prevent wrong
diagnosis and help the treatment of clinical depression.

Iron and clinical depression

It is an established fact that iron is very essential for
neurological functions and development. Iron deficiency is
very prevalent all over the world. This deficiency can lead
to depressed neurotransmitter response, leading to clinical
depression. When iron is not transported from the blood
plasma pool to the cerebrospinal fluid, depression can set
in.

The Importance Iron Balance

The importance of iron for sustaining good health cannot be
underestimated. Lack of iron can lead to exhaustion,
clinical depression, vulnerability to viruses, cancer, and
various degenerative conditions.

On the other end of the spectrum, excess iron or change in
the iron-binding capability leads to a situation where the
free unbound iron causes or aggravates all diseases,
infections, cancers and toxicities.

Therefore, in our efforts to acquire the right proportion
of iron or lose excess iron, we must not overlook the fact
that iron must be bound and properly guided through the
body from the time of ingestion to excretion.

If we do not pay attention to bind and properly guide iron
during the detoxification process, the toxic effects of
iron may nullify its various benefits.

It is very difficult to determine the exact iron content in
the body, since no test or combination of tests, under any
clinical condition, can give us the accurate estimate.

Before laboratory investigations lead us to any conclusion,
it must be understood that the results of each laboratory
test may be influenced by factors such as infection,
inflammation, liver disease and malignancy. Sometimes
laboratory tests are inadequate.

Most elements can either donate or accept electrons in
order to attain a stable electronic configuration; but iron
can both, donate as well as accept electrons.

Due to this ability of iron, it is highly reactive and can
be highly toxic. Hydrogen Peroxide in our body readily
dismutates in the presence of iron, giving rise to free
radicals. Unbound iron speeds up this process of producing
free radicals. Free radicals play havoc by damaging cell
structures and ultimately killing the cell, resulting in
various diseases.

The role of Proteins

Most living organisms bind iron atoms to protein molecules
in order to prevent this damage done by unbound iron. This
enables them to restrict the damaging action and take
advantage of the various benefits offered by iron.

Proteins play an important role in metabolism by speeding
up biochemical reactions by their enzymatic action. Enzymes
produced due to chronic inflammation, action of free
radicals and change in the related subclinical markers
cause a breakdown of connective tissue, which holds the
body together.

The words protein, peptide and polypeptide tend to be a
little confusing. Although they have common
characteristics, they are distinct.

Protein is a complete biological molecule with a three
dimensional structure, whereas peptide is a finite chain of
amino acids which lacks proper structural arrangement. A
polypeptide is an infinite chain of amino acids which also
lacks a proper structure.

Biochemical screening is a test done to detect the presence
of any disease. Such tests have revealed that every
degenerative disease results from six subclinical defects,
namely, pH imbalance, anaerobic metabolism, free calcium
excess, chronic inflammation, connective tissue breakdown
and oxidative stress.

Our body metabolism and exposure to pollution gives rise to
extremely reactive ions called free radicals. Free radicals
are produced due to iron imbalance which indicates that
iron is not bound to protein and therefore, is free to
cause damage to cells.

Iron deficiency or Copper deficiency? Acute inflammation is
actually a positive sign since it triggers the immune
system to fight diseases and withhold iron. This is kept in
mind by health professionals while formulating medications
for treating cancer, iron deficiency, excessive tiredness,
memory loss and depression.

Sometimes tests show that a person has low iron content in
blood serum. Prescribing iron supplements may pose a risk
because low iron may actually indicate low copper content.

When clinical tests show low serum iron, elevated Total
Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and low Transferrin
Saturation, it could not only mean that there is free iron
but also a copper deficiency.

How do we know? Let's get a little technical. Ceruloplasmin
is a copper protein complex found in blood plasma. Ferritin
is a protein complex that is found in cells, and it stores
iron in soluble and non-toxic form. Transferrin is a blood
plasma protein that binds iron tightly and therefore,
reduces free iron. Now, Ceruloplasmin takes iron from
Ferritin and attaches it to Transferrin. Two molecules of
iron can be attached to a single molecule of Transferrin.
Therefore, there is a vacancy for two iron molecules on
every Transferrin molecule. In a normal person, only 30% of
these vacancies get filled. When fewer iron molecules are
attached to Transferrin, the TIBC rises. This is an
indication of low copper. Since copper is low, it cannot
produce Ceruloplasmin and the above-mentioned process of
attaching iron to Transferrin cannot take place.

In short, clinical tests that show low iron content in
blood serum may actually indicate low copper content.
Therefore, prescribing iron supplements may aggravate the
condition.

What else does free iron indicate?

Also, when there is free iron, it can mean that there are
not enough amino acids. Amino acids are the most abundant
neurotransmitters available in the brain. Research has
shown that a lack of specific neurotransmitters may induce
clinical depression. Antidepressants regulate the action of
these neurotransmitters thereby providing relief to the
person.

Moving towards the Right Solution

If the above-mentioned factors are studied well, a proper
diagnosis and treatment for clinical depression can be
arrived at.

The risk of infection, disease and high toxic levels can be
reduced once we identify iron imbalance. Thereafter
appropriate measures must be taken to restore the iron
balance. Therefore we must consider a few factors: 1. Since
intestinal mucosa contains Transferrin, it must be well
maintained.

2. Protein levels should be optimally maintained.

3. The right balance of aerobic-anaerobic metabolism must
be attained. Too much of anaerobic metabolism results of
production of toxins and resulting in fatigue, which is a
symptom of clinical depression.

4. Overpowering acid stress by maintaining alkalinity

5. Getting rid of toxins and organic solvents that may
hinder the iron binding action done by proteins. 6.
Individuals who are diagnosed to have free iron should take
to a diet rich in whole eggs and cultured dairy products.
7. A proper phlebotomy and testing program must be
conducted to monitor iron overload.

Since iron deficiency or excess plays a key role at every
step in the diagnosis and treatment of clinical depression,
we should be careful to monitor its status in order to
avoid the chain of events that are triggered by its
imbalance.


About the Author:

Helena Ederveen, Clinical Nutritionist, Master Practitioner
Neuro Linguistic Programming; Advanced Eriksonian Hypnosis;
Health and LifeStyle Coaching
http://www.a-holistic-healthcoach-approach.com
http://www.apneasleep-snoringtreatments.com