Navigation
Current umbrella evidence on nutraceuticals and herbal medicine for depression in adults: a scoping review
As depression continues to be a significant global health issue, the limitations of traditional antidepressants, including side effects and withdrawal complications, prompt an exploration of alternative interventions. This study aims to consolidate findings on the effects of nutraceuticals and herbal agents in adults diagnosed with clinical depression.
In conducting this scoping review, researchers adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute’s framework. A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from 2015 to 2025, focusing on umbrella reviews examining oral nutraceuticals and herbal treatments.
Ultimately, nine umbrella reviews met the predetermined inclusion criteria. These reviews investigated a range of interventions, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, probiotics, saffron, St John’s wort, zinc, and folate. The consensus among these reviews suggested potential antidepressant effects and acceptable safety profiles for these interventions. However, the presence of trial overlap and variability in the studies resulted in limited certainty about their overall efficacy.
In conclusion, while the gathered evidence indicates promising yet inconsistent outcomes for various nutraceutical and herbal agents, there remains a need for standardized reporting practices, assessment of baseline nutrient levels, and economic evaluations to better understand their effectiveness in treating depression. [NPID: Nutraceuticals, herbal medicine, depression]
Year: 2026
