Oestradiol is an estrogen and the primary female sex hormone, it plays a significant role in the mental health of women.

There are links between drops in this hormone & mood and wellbeing. Research shows that stabilizing these hormone levels can help women recover from depression.

Estradiol is also connected to the brain’s secretion of oxytocin, which is powerful hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Low levels are linked to depression

These are primarily connected to ovulation and menstruation, in women. they both play an important part in the natural fluctuations of your hormones. If they are however too high or low throughout the month it may be affecting your mood and mental wellbeing and is worth further investigation in men LH (also called interstitial cell-stimulating hormone) it stimulates production of testosterone which also connects to low mood and depression like symptoms if low.

Your adrenal glands and ovaries make DHEA, which is then quickly converted to DHEAS. DHEAS helps your body produce other hormones – DHEAS levels that are too low can result in chronic fatigue, low libido, and mood changes. High DHEAS levels – often accompanied by acne, infertility, an absence of a menstrual cycle, or increased body and facial hair – can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other problems with the adrenal glands.

Cortisol is an important hormone produced by the adrenal glands, it is secreted by the body in response to stress and is one of the hormones involved in the fight or flight response.

In small doses, cortisol secretion has many benefits. It prepares you for physical and emotional challenges, generates bursts of energy in the face of trauma – it’s the

If you’re exposed to continuous or prolonged stress, which results in the continuous production of cortisol. This can be problematic

In roughly half of the people who live with depression, cortisol peaks earlier in the morning and does not level off or decrease in the afternoon or evening.

Ongoing stress means that stress hormones are operating throughout the day for most of the day. This is exhausting to the body and may cause the neurotransmitters in your brain like serotonin—the “feel good” chemical that appears to influence mood, appetite, and sleep, among other things—to stop functioning correctly, potentially leading to depression.

FT3 – FT4 – TSH

Thyroid tests check the blood for levels of hormones produced by the thyroid gland. If the thyroid gland is under- or overactive the symptoms may include changes in mood, Chronic fatigue, lethargy, forgetfulness, weakness, sluggishness and weight gain

Lots of research shows that thyroid dysfunction and low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) can contribute to depression.

The Majority of testosterone circulating within the blood is bound to proteins, in particular SHBG and albumin only 2-3% of testosterone is free and available to cells. The test uses an algorithm to calculate the level of free or unbound testosterone in relation to total testosterone, SHBG and albumin.

A lower level in a male could lead to symptoms which include low libido, erectile dysfunction, depression and a difficulty in gaining muscle mass.

In women an increased level could be an indication of polycystic ovary syndrome

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps to absorb the minerals and calcium It has a vital role in forming and maintaining lots of element in your body including combating depression.

Optimizing your Vitamin D levels can then reduce inflammation and improve your mood

We often think of it as the vitamin we get from the sun, but especially during the winter levels can deplete.

Zinc is an essential mineral for mental health, as it plays a key role in brain and nervous system function and neurotransmission. We get Zinc from a healthy balanced diet, If your levels are lacking supplements can help.

Having a good level of Vitamin B12 is necessary for your brain to work properly.

But deficiency is very common, especially in older individuals and vegetarians and vegans.

In fact, it’s estimated that almost 40% of Americans are deficient!

symptoms of B12 deficiency include memory loss, fatigue, irritability, apathy, personality changes

Optimizing your B12 levels is also important if you want to promote the regeneration of myelin, lower your homocysteine levels, and reverse brain damage and cognitive decline.

Magnesium is a vital mineral that participates in more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body. This includes neurotransmitter and hormonal activity, all of which can have a huge effect on your mood. Low magnesium levels contribute and worsen many neuropsychiatric problems. depression Stress will also deplete magnesium,

It can be balanced with diet or general supplements if your levels are low

Iron helps your red blood cells carry oxygen to your tissues, so when you have low levels of iron, less oxygen gets to your cells, resulting in fatigue and weakness. Women require more than double the amount of iron than men yet one out of every five women of childbearing age has iron-deficiency anemia, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Aside from fatigue, iron deficiency may also make you more at risk for depression. Research has shown that average ferritin level (a marker of stored iron) was significantly lower in depressed people

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammation marker

it does not identify where the inflammation is located. High Sensitivity CRP (CRP-hs) is a test which is used to detect low-level inflammation which is thought to damage blood vessels which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

There are lots of everyday things that can increase inflammation in the body,

Chronic stress, Sleep loss, having a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, drinking and many gut disorders can increase the inflammation throughout your body and can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety which is highly associated with inflammation.