For more than two decades, researchers have reported in scientific studies that micronutrients help relieve real-life depression, anxiety, and stress.

More and more, this research is being put into action by medical professionals around the world.

The Research

After a severe earthquake ravaged the city of Christchurch, New Zealand in 2010, Dr. Julia Rucklidge observed that broad-spectrum micronutrients seemed to help earthquake survivors: those who took specialized micronutrients during and after the earthquake were more resilient and recovered more quickly than people who did not.

When a severe aftershock hit the city again in 2011, researchers randomized volunteers to either take the specialized micronutrients or take B-vitamins. Those taking micronutrients “showed large reductions in anxiety and emotional distress following eight weeks,” as well as “greater improvements in mood, anxiety, and energy”. In short, they recovered more quickly. 

Following massive flooding in Alberta, Canada, researchers observed similar results: nutrients are effective in alleviating depression, anxiety, and stress.

Recently, in ‘gold-standard’ double-blind studies, researchers have found that higher-dose clinical micronutrient therapy is effective in improving depression, anxiety, and stress in adults and children with ADHD.

Two Mosque Massacres

Fast forward to March 2019, when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, tragically killing 51 people and injuring 40. The community was severely affected, especially those who witnessed the horrific events that played out that day or whose family members were killed or injured.

In response to this traumatic event, micronutrient researchers in the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Laboratory at the University of Canterbury hoped to apply the results they had learned from previous studies to help the survivors of the mosque shooting tragedy. 

Senior university students reached out in a culturally appropriate way to members of the affected community and invited them to take a specialized nutritional formulation, Hardy Nutritionals® Optimal Balance®, which is similar to the specialized formulations used in the studies.

Nutrition in Action

Within one or two months of the massacre, 26 adults sought the micronutrient treatment. Two-thirds of the participants were male, between the ages of 19 and 58, and one was present during one of the shootings. Among the participants, a range of nationalities and ethnicities were represented, including Pakistani, Indian, Afghan, Ethiopian, and New Zealand European.

Clinicians provided participants with Hardy Nutritionals® Optimal Balance® and instructed them to take three capsules of the micronutrients, twice per day. Every two weeks, participants completed an online questionnaire reporting their psychological outcomes and any side effects.

The results of this clinical outreach, compared with the earthquake and flood research results, were recently published in the scientific journal International Perspectives in Psychology.

The Results 

Of the 26 participants, 24 completed at least two questionnaires between two and eight weeks after starting the treatment. Side effects were reported infrequently, if at all, and were mild. 

Before taking micronutrients, the psychological scores of 75% of the massacre victims pointed to “probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” After treatment, probable PTSD rates dropped to 17%. 

Most of the participants experienced large reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress: 58% self-reported feeling “much improved” or “very much improved”. Many of them also enjoyed improved sleep, improved irritability, and higher energy after taking the micronutrients. 

About Hardy Nutritionals®

Hardy Nutritionals® offers two levels of micronutrients: clinical strength and regular-strength. Both formulations have proven effective against anxiety, stress, and mood swings, as reported in scientific publications. Learn more at Try.HardyNutritionals.com.

About Hardy Nutritionals®

Hardy Nutritionals® multivitamin-mineral products are powered by our proprietary NutraTek™ mineral delivery technology, which combines each mineral with specialized organic molecules—just like nature—to optimize absorption and distribution to body cells. Our flagship supplement, Daily Essential Nutrients, is widely considered to be the most research-backed micronutrient treatment.