Depression symptoms improved through targeting of metabolic deficiencies
Major depressive disorder is estimated to affect almost 15 million American adults, at least 15% of whom are not sufficiently treated by conventional therapies, including antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. A new study from researchers at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (PA, USA) provides hope for a novel approach to treating the disorder, targeting metabolic deficiencies. The researchers first observed abnormalities in CSF levels of biopterin, an enzyme cofactor involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, 5 years ago while treating an adolescent with longstanding depression. After receiving an analogue of biopterin to correct the observed deficiency, the patient’s depression symptoms displayed drastic...