Methods, compositions, and kits addressing depressed mood

Abstract

A method of treating or preventing postpartum blues or depression is described, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof: an antioxidant source at least once between day-1 to day-5 post-partum; and a tyrosine composition comprising from 2.0 g to 50 g of tyrosine for use on day-4 to day-6 postpartum following use of the antioxidant source. The antioxidant source may comprise a food or an extract derived from such a foods as grapes, berries such as blueberries, citrus fruit, pomegranate, tomato, squash, carrot, sweet potato, dark green vegetables, beets, leafy vegetables, Brassica oleracea vegetables, peppers, melons, pineapples, lentils, plant oils, and/or tree nuts.

1 . A method for treatment or prophylaxis of postpartum blues or depression comprising administering to a subject in need thereof:
 an antioxidant source at least once between day-1 to day-5 post-partum; and   a tyrosine composition comprising from 2.0 g to 50 g of tyrosine on day-4 to day-6 postpartum following use of the antioxidant source.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source comprises a composition comprising a plant extract and an acceptable diluent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source comprises:
 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, and/or a tree nut; or a juice, extract, or isolated antioxidant compound therefrom.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source comprises blueberries, blueberry juice, blueberry extract, and/or an anthocyanin isolated from blueberry. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source comprises an anthocyanin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source has an ORAC value at least about 3000 μmol TE/serving. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source has an ORAC value of at least about 5000 μmol TE/serving. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source:
 is administered on more than one day from day-1 to day-5 postpartum; and/or   is additionally administered for 1-7 days following administration of the tyrosine composition.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tyrosine composition is administered on day-5 postpartum. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the antioxidant source is administered on day-3, day-4, and day-5 postpartum. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source is administered twice daily. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tyrosine composition comprises about 10 g of L-tyrosine per serving, and an acceptable diluent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source comprises a vitamin or micronutrient, or a plant oil containing vitamin E. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant source comprises a precursor compound that is converted to an antioxidant form by the body after administration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the precursor compound comprises cysteine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tyrosine composition comprises about 10 g of tyrosine; and   the antioxidant source has an ORAC value of at least about 5000 μmol TE/serving, and comprises blueberries, blueberry juice and/or blueberry extract.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tyrosine composition and the antioxidant source are in a form independently selected from the group consisting of a pill, a capsule, a tablet, a gel, a concentrate, a syrup, a bar, a cereal, a beverage, a shake, a powder, and a baked product. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has elevated MAO-A levels. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for use in the method as defined in  claim 1  for treatment or prophylaxis of postpartum blues or depression in a subject in need thereof, said kit comprising:
 at least one serving of an antioxidant source for administration between day-1 to day-5 postpartum; 
 a tyrosine composition comprising from 2.0 g to 50 g of tyrosine per serving for administration on day-4 to day-6 postpartum following use of the antioxidant source; and 
 directions for use according to the method of  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the tyrosine composition and the antioxidant source are in a form independently selected from the group consisting of a pill, a capsule, a tablet, a gel, a concentrate, a syrup, a bar, a cereal, a beverage, a shake, a powder, and a baked product.