Methods, compositions, and kits addressing depressed mood

#The present disclosure relates generally to methods, compositions, kits, and uses thereof to address depressed mood, for example by treatment, amelioration, or prevention of depressed mood.

#The early postpartum period, specifically the first few weeks after delivery, is a time of high risk for a major depressive episode, also referred to as postpartum depression. During this time there is a heightened vulnerability for low mood due to postpartum blues. Severe postpartum blues may indicate the onset of postpartum depression (O'Hara et al., 1991). The sadness commonly observed around day-5 postpartum is considered in the healthy range of experience. However, it has also been observed that vulnerability to depressed mood is highly correlated to postpartum blues at day-5 and to exhibition of dysfunctional attitudes on day-5 postpartum (Dowlati et al, 2014). The neurobiological mechanisms leading to postpartum blues and postpartum depression are unclear.

#Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is a pro oxidant enzyme with the ability to metabolize monoamines such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine which help to maintain normal mood. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels are observed to be lowered during major depressive episodes. Elevated MAO-A levels are observed in individuals with major depressive disorder during a major depressive episode, and may contribute to monoamine-lowering observed during a major depressive episode in depressed individuals (Meyer et al., 2006; and Meyer et al., 2009).

#Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures.

#FIG. 1 is a chart showing correlation between depressed mood scores evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) scores prior to mood induction at day-5 postpartum.

#FIG. 2 is a chart showing Visual Analog Scale (VAS) depressed mood scores of individuals before and after a mood induction treatment at day-5 postpartum with and without treatment, and makes comparison with individuals known to cry easily within 18-months postpartum.

#There is provided herein a method of treating or preventing postpartum blues or depression comprising administering to a subject in need thereof: an antioxidant source; a tryptophan composition comprising from 1.0 g to 5.0 g of tryptophan; and a tyrosine composition comprising from 2.0 g to 50 g of tyrosine. Compositions and kits for use in the method are also described. Such a kit includes the antioxidant source, the tryptophan composition and/or the tyrosine composition together with instructions for use in the described method.

#The antioxidant source used in the composition for treating or preventing postpartum blues or depression may comprise a food, a composition comprising a plant extract and an acceptable diluent, a vitamin, a micronutrient, and/or an anthocyanin. For example, the antioxidant source may comprise grapes, berries, citrus fruit, pomegranate, tomato, squash, carrot, sweet potato, a dark green vegetable, a beet, a leafy vegetable, a Brassica oleracea vegetable, a pepper, a melon, pineapple, lentils, a plant oil (optionally the plant oil may be one high in vitamin E), and/or a tree nut; and/or a juice, extract, or isolated antioxidant compound therefrom. For example, the antioxidant source may comprise blueberries, blueberry juice, blueberry extract, and/or an anthocyanin isolated from blueberry. The antioxidant source may comprise a precursor compound that is converted to an antioxidant form by the body after administration, for example the precursor compound may comprise cysteine. The antioxidant source may be one having an ORAC value at least about 3000 μmol TE/serving, for example at least about 5000 μmol TE/serving.

#The tryptophan composition used in the composition for treating or preventing postpartum blues or depression may comprise L-tryptophan in free amino acid form or in a peptide form, and an acceptable diluent. The tyrosine composition used in the composition for treating or preventing postpartum blues or depression may comprise L-tyrosine in amino acid form and an acceptable diluent. Exemplary embodiments include 2 g of tryptophan in the tryptophan composition and/or 10 g of tyrosine in the tyrosine composition. With such exemplary embodiments, the antioxidant source may be one having an ORAC value of at least about 5000 μmol TE/serving, and comprising blueberries, blueberry juice and/or blueberry extract. The tryptophan composition, the tyrosine composition, and/or the antioxidant source may be in the form of a pill, a capsule, a tablet, a gel, a concentrate, a syrup, a bar, a cereal, a beverage, a shake, a powder, or a baked product.