A Case of Improvement in Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in a Woman in Her 40s After Dietary Correction Focused on Iron and Protein Intake
2026 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 417-423
Details
2026 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 417-423
Background: In depressive and anxiety states, nutritional imbalance, including insufficient iron and protein intake, may be associated with symptoms, and dietary evaluation is meaningful in nutritio nal psychiatry.
Case: A woman in her 40s with depression and panic disorder had depressed mood, fatigue, anxi ety, insomnia, anticipatory anxiety, and dyspnea. Antidepressant treatment was difficult because of nausea. A dietary intervention targeted iron intake of at least 20 mg/day and protein intake of at least 1.5 g/kg/day, together with changing the staple food to rice, introducing snacks between mea ls, and adjusting caffeine intake. After 3 weeks, bowel movements improved from once every 3–7 days to daily. Six months after intervention, hemoglobin was 13.5 g/dL and ferritin was 20.7 ng/ mL. At 8 months, depressed mood, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbance had improved.
Conclusion: Evaluation of diet and nutritional status, including iron and protein intake, may be us eful in patients with psychiatric symptoms.
