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In recent years, micronutrients—those vital vitamins and minerals that our bodies need in small quantities—have garnered significant attention for their potential to improve mental health and overall well-being. Research in nutritional psychiatry has demonstrated the powerful effects of micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins in the treatment and prevention of conditions such as ADHD, depression, and anxiety. However, in New Zealand, outdated regulations are creating barriers for Kiwis seeking access to these life-changing supplements. As a result, many individuals are being deprived of proven health benefits due to legal restrictions that make essential micronutrient therapies harder to obtain.
Micronutrient supplementation has proven to be a game-changer for many individuals struggling with mental health conditions. The research led by Professor Dr. Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist at the University of Canterbury, is at the forefront of this movement. Her studies have shown that micronutrient formulations, specifically Daily Essential Nutrients (DEN) can significantly improve symptoms in people with ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
One remarkable success story comes from Simone, a mother from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, whose 14-year-old son struggled with ADHD and the debilitating side effects of conventional medication. After switching to DEN as part of a clinical trial, Simone’s son experienced a dramatic improvement in his emotional regulation, school performance, and overall well-being. “It just made a huge difference in our lives,” Simone said. Her son, who had previously struggled with appetite loss and insomnia due to medication, was able to focus better and feel more balanced when taking DEN.
These findings align with the extensive research carried out at universities around the world on Daily Essential Nutrients, like studies such as “Broad-Spectrum Micronutrients and ADHD: A Natural Alternative”, which highlight how highly bioavailable essential vitamins and minerals support neurological function and emotional stability when provided at precise therapeutic levels. The science-backed formulation of DEN is designed to provide optimal brain health benefits by delivering bioavailable forms of key micronutrients, ensuring maximum absorption and effectiveness.
Despite the mounting evidence of the benefits of micronutrients, New Zealand’s regulatory framework is preventing many people from accessing these crucial treatments. Daily Essential Nutrients (DEN) is one such supplement that has been blocked from general sale by New Zealand’s medicines regulator, Medsafe.
Up until September 2024, DEN was available for purchase over the counter in New Zealand as a dietary supplement. However, following regulatory intervention, DEN was pulled from shelves due to its non-compliance with the Medicines Act and the Dietary Supplements Regulations of 1985. These regulations, which govern the sale and dosage of vitamins and minerals, limit the amount of certain nutrients that can be included in dietary supplements. Unfortunately, DEN’s recommended daily dosage exceeds the maximum permissible limits for zinc and vitamin B12, causing it to fall under stricter medicinal classifications that require a prescription for access.
The other issue the NZ government has with DEN is that it contains lithium orotate, a naturally occurring essential mineral that is classified as a prescription-only drug in New Zealand. The result of this intervention? New Zealanders who have been using DEN to successfully manage mental health conditions now must go through the hassle and expense of obtaining a prescription to continue using the product, in many cases going without their choice of symptom management in the interim.
As highlighted in our previous article, “Why Governments Need to Update Their Approach to Supplements,” many outdated regulations were established before the depth of research on micronutrients’ mental health benefits existed. DEN has undergone extensive clinical trials demonstrating its effectiveness, yet regulatory agencies continue to apply outdated rules that do not reflect current scientific understanding.
The regulatory changes have placed a significant burden on both consumers and health professionals. Many individuals who rely on DEN for their mental health are now forced to obtain a prescription to continue using it. This not only creates an additional financial burden but also contributes to an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
General practitioners (GPs), who are often unfamiliar with the therapeutic potential of micronutrients, are often reluctant to prescribe them. This creates a frustrating cycle for patients who are required to consult with a doctor to get access to something that is scientifically proven to be beneficial but which many GPs may not be well-versed in.
Professor Rucklidge, who is the director of the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab (University of Canterbury), has studied various nutrient formulations and has been vocal about the illogical nature of these regulations, particularly when considering the low-risk profile of micronutrient use. (These are highly researched vitamins and minerals, after all). The reality is that the benefits of these clinical-strength mental health micronutrients far outweigh the minimal risks they pose, and the requirement for a prescription is an unnecessary hurdle.
One patient shared their frustration with Dr. Rucklidge, explaining that their doctor refused to prescribe DEN unless they became unwell after discontinuing, forcing them to stop taking it and allow their symptoms to worsen.
A large percentage of individuals who reportedly use micronutrients for mental health are diagnosed with chronic or acute mental health or mood disorders, and to be abruptly forced to forego the micronutrients can be detrimental to their recovery.
This highlights the systemic problem where prevention and maintenance of mental health are overlooked in favor of treating illness after it has already taken hold.
Professor Rucklidge and other experts have called for an update to New Zealand’s Dietary Supplements Regulations to better align with modern scientific understanding. As she points out, “Every government over the last two decades has acknowledged that the Dietary Supplements Regulations are out of date and out of pace with science.” For example, the current regulations place unnecessary restrictions on the amount of zinc that can be included in supplements—restrictions that would make it impossible to meet daily zinc requirements from food alone.
Dr. Rucklidge advocates for a separate regulatory system specifically designed for dietary supplements that would allow natural products like DEN to be sold without the need for prescriptions. This system would allow for greater access to safe, effective supplements while still protecting consumers.
The current situation in New Zealand is untenable. While the country has been at the forefront of groundbreaking research into the benefits of micronutrients, the outdated regulatory framework is preventing its citizens from benefiting from these advances. Professor Rucklidge’s calls for reform, alongside support from other organizations, underscore the urgent need for a regulatory overhaul.
As more people seek alternative solutions to mental health challenges, it is critical that regulatory systems evolve to reflect scientific progress. The future of mental health treatment lies in prevention, and that means providing easy access to micronutrient-based therapies proven time and again to be safe and effective. Until then, advocacy for reform, alongside ongoing education about the benefits of micronutrients, will continue to drive the conversation forward.
As a result of this recent Medsafe action, the highly research-backed original Daily Essential Nutrients (DEN) formula is currently classed as a ‘prescription medicine’, due to the presence of trace amounts of lithium orotate (less than 0.1 mg lithium per capsule). As such, it is no longer available for purchase from within New Zealand. However, individuals and families can import it for personal use from the United States via HardyNutritionals.com.
Daily Essential Nutrients with added Vitamers (DENV) remains available in New Zealand via Naturezone Health (sales@naturezonehealth.com 0800 1 24680) with a script from a NZ-registered medical practitioner (e.g. a prescribing doctor or psychiatrist).
DENV is an excellent alternative to the original DEN formula. The vast majority of people who have tried it over the last few years have reported no noticeable difference between the two products, as they are substantially similar. In fact, because of the additional forms of vitamins, some individuals have reported a noticeable improvement in response. Only in rare cases have some responded better to the original DEN formula.
