Nutrition and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions.

OCD often begins in childhood or adolescence, and comorbid disorders such as mood, anxiety, psychosis, and somatoform disorders are common in patients with OCD.

Structural, neurochemical, genetic, and immunological factors play a role in the etiology and pathophysiology of OCD.

Changes in certain neurotransmitters are associated with OCD symptoms.

Serotonin deficiency and dysfunction of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) are associated with OCD symptoms.

Additionally, elevated glutamate, glutamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in the caudate nucleus as well as increased glutamate concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid have been observed in patients with OCD.

Additionally, the ionotropic N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamatergic receptor is implicated in OCD.

The limited effectiveness and possible side effects of current treatments have led to the search for alternative strategies.

It is known that various nutritional deficiencies can be detected in patients with mental disorders.

Therefore it is believed that nutritional supplements are effective in treatment.

There is little research in the literature on herbal and nutritional supplements for the treatment of OCD.

The association between OCD and vitamin D has only been studied in children and adolescents.

Limited data suggest a negative correlation between OCD symptom severity and vitamin D.

But these studies were conducted on small samples and have controversial points in the methodology.

Vitamin B12 and folate are believed to be effective in treating OCD due to their relationship with neurotransmitters.

Depending on their antioxidant effects, zinc and selenium can be used to enhance OCD treatment.

However, trace minerals and vitamin B12/folate can be affected by diet.

Therefore, participants' dietary habits need to be taken into account when designing OCD treatment studies.

Several studies and case reports have shown improvement with N-acetylcysteine​(NAC) in OCD.However, these studies included small samples and participants using SSRIs, psychotropic medications, or psychotherapy.

Data on the effects of glycine in treating OCD are limited.

On the other hand, maintaining glycine treatment is very difficult due to its side effects.Current limited clinical data suggest that MI may be effective as monotherapy for OCD.

Silybum marianum (milk thistle) is a medicinal plant grown in the Mediterranean and Persian regions. It contains the flavonoid complex silymarin, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, sedative and antidepressant effects.

Silymarin has also been shown to increase cortical serotonin and act as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.

Results from the only randomized controlled trial (n=35) of milk thistle for the treatment of OCD showed no significant difference in treatment effectiveness between milk thistle (600 mg/day) and fluoxetine.

Milk thistle is said to have similar effects to fluoxetine on OCD symptoms, and its positive effects start as early as week five without serious side effects.