Is Salt Nature's Antidepressant?

[dracodraconis]

Is Salt Nature's Antidepressant?

A physiologist suggests that, based on his studies with rats, that salt may be an anti-depressant. Sodium-deprived rats exhibited symptoms similar to depression but when provided salt they return to their normal activity levels. As for a link to humans, the researcher points to a study that found many people with chronic fatigue syndrome were on sodium-reduced diets and increasing their salt intake alleviated many of their symptoms.

Comments

[ancalagon-tb.livejournal.com]

I really have issues with this study and its interpretation.

Salt is needed (in moderate amount) for proper functioning. Lack of salt makes people weak and tired. But this is a *physiological* effect, not a psychological one! It's going to be really hard to distinguish the two in rats.

[dracodraconis.livejournal.com]

My first thought when I read the synopsis was "How can you tell if they're depressed and not sick, like, from salt deprivation?". The article never did explain that, they just interpreted lack of energy as depression.