Julia Rucklidge - Mental Health & Nutrition Research: Te Puna Toiora

Great place to connect with like minded individuals doing amazing research! I plan to present our teen data there

Call for Abstracts 📢

There’s just one week left to get your abstracts in for oral and poster presentations at the 5th ISNPR Conference.

We’re inviting individual and poster presentations related to any area of Nutritional Psychiatry.

We also have 4 travel awards available for students and postdoctoral fellows!

Stay tuned for early-bird registration to be released!

www.isnprconf.com/2025

⭐️ LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS⭐️

Do you have a diagnosis of OCD?
Is OCD getting in the way of your life?
Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you interested in whether what you eat impacts your OCD symptoms?

We are looking for you!

In this WORLD FIRST research trial, we are looking into whether a particular diet (of 8+ weeks in duration) may improve symptoms of OCD.

Available to NZ-based participants only.

If you're interested to take part, please click the link below for more information and to complete the screening form:
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/about-uc-research/research-groups-and-centres/te-puna-toiora-mental-health-and-nutrition-research/nourish-ocd-trail

For any questions, you can email Sophia at [email protected] as she’d love to hear from you.

A quick update: Since the meeting with medsafe a couple of weeks ago, I have spoken to a number of people involved in the development of new legislation for NHPs and DS (probably years away). However, there is clear recognition that the current DSR 1985 are now so out of date they are causing harm. Therefore, they are ready to update them while we wait for new legislation! (note that they were "frozen in time" for a while as they sat under the revoked Food Act 1981 - this has been changed in the last few months - it took them 6 months to actually tell me this).

They are considering the request to increase the doses on zinc and B12, which, if enacted, would make DEN-V and EMP dietary supplements again. It still requires time and public consultation but this is a step in the right direction (I hope!). Perhaps by the end of the year?

ALSO, I have just been invited to meet with Hon Costello (associate minister of health) and Hon Hoggard (minister of primary industries) in Parliament in the next 2 weeks. Hopefully that meeting is to discuss changes that need to be made. Hon Seymour is no longer the person to deal with.

This conference is jam packed with great content. Not to be missed.

🍎 Curious if nutrition can transform children's mental health?

Clinical Psychologist 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲, Director of the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury, presents evidence-based insights on how targeted nutrients impact conditions like ADHD and anxiety.

Join her at the 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, April 24th, 2025.

🗓️ 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Thursday, April 24th, 2025
📍𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Online
🎟️ 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: £79 - Available at https://f.mtr.cool/izlsnlskoi

Julia Rucklidge - Mental Health & Nutrition Research: Te Puna Toiora Food for the Brain

Update: I had the meeting with leaders at medsafe and the impasse continues. Yes, they are trying to be helpful with some guidance on how prescribers can write a letter of authority for an unapproved medicine (ie Daily Essential Nutrients because it exceeds the doses allowed on B12 and zinc). There is hope that more information will be available to prescribers to help them navigate the hoops to help their patients obtain Daily Essential Nutrients (DEN) as an unapproved medicine. Three months is the max for a prescription as that is the law. DEN with lithium can only be sold here if a wholesaler with a license to sell a medicine can be found. So far, no company has been interested. As Nature Zone (supplier of DEN-V) is not licensed to sell medicines, that is not an option.

Improving GP education IS a good thing and if that can happen, that is moving in the right direction.

Again it was made clear to me that changing the dietary supplement regulations isn’t in Medafe's hands. They just apply the law even though everyone present at the meeting (11 of us) acknowledged the regulations are no longer fit for purpose. As I have posted earlier, Hon Seymour has decided it isn't in his portfolio to make those changes.

It seems such a waste of precious resources (mine, theirs, GPs) trying to make workarounds on extremely outdated regulations for dietary supplements.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that there is new legislation being written (perhaps under Hon Costello?) and I understand that as part of that process, the DST 1985 could be updated slightly while we wait the few years for the new legislation to come into effect. I don’t know the process of how to make those changes happen; however, I have already followed up on the leads that were given to me.

Meanwhile, at the heart of it, New Zealanders suffer. Those with resources can figure out the system and import for personal use, but those without resources, continue to struggle with dysregulated, aggressive, and irritable kids who could so easily be calmed with micronutrients (and with no serious side effects). Mothers-to-be could use them to support positive birth outcomes and people with ADHD could have another choice if current options were not suitable.

Image created by AI to capture that while nothing substantial is about to change, we do have some leads to follow

I need a volunteer!

First off...Thank you for all the messages and comments I have received about the struggles since medsafe imposed the restrictions on purchasing. Keep them coming!!! I will collate them for MedSafe with names removed.

I think what would be most powerful at this meeting I have with MedSafe is a consumer telling their story. Far more powerful voice than me. Is anyone from Wellington free at 3:30 on Thursday? Someone who can speak to the power of change from micronutrients compared to conventional treatment and has struggled with access since medsafe's decision. Comment or DM me with your story if you think you can join me. It will also give me courage and strength when meeting with the Regulators.

Good news! I have been given an in person meeting with Medsafe next week in Wellington. I hope to discuss the challenges people have had with the "scripts", the lack of medical knowledge on nutrients, the costs and any other barriers you can inform me about with the hope that we can mutual find better solutions that are not so difficult for those who rely on micronutrients for health.

I urge you to comment or DM me and let me know your story so I can share with those who can influence the landscape forward. What do you hope for the future of micronutrients in NZ? Is it all working well now or can things be improved?

image created by copilot - trying to depict breaking down barriers

Update: I finally heard back from Hon David Seymour. The summary of the 4 page letter is that changing the dose limits contained within the Dietary Supplements Regulations is not under his portfolio, it is under the Minister of Food Safety, even though he has asked for them to be changed as a matter of priority. Bottom line is that getting laws and regs to be changed is very hard. There is acknowledgement that the Regulations are woefully out of date; however, we must wait for new legislation to be written for things to potentially improve.

I am sorry that I don't have better news. So, for now, you can get Daily Essential Nutrients (DEN) by importing from USA or getting a "script" (letter of support from prescriber) and buying DEN-V (without lithium) locally as medsafe have declared it to be an "unapproved medicine". I hope this system, while not ideal, is working out for those who need it. I know it is confusing and not easy to navigate.

He encouraged more submissions when the time comes and new legislation is out for consult. Dietary Supplements are tabled to have separate legislation from pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

One vital component of the health of our food system is wai Māori|freshwater. It is currently polluted and degraded. Chemicals added for growing and harvesting crops are messing with the microbiome of the soil and contributing to polluted waters. Ngāi Tahu seeks recognition of its rangatiratanga over waterways, with the ultimate goal of looking after this resource as precious and in need of protection. In turn, such protection would have a flow on effect of improving our health.

Ngāi Tahu’s freshwater lawsuit could be a blockbuster The iwi wants much more control of water in the South Island, and on Monday will begin its dispute against the Crown in the High Court in a case expected to last for weeks - and to have wide ramifications.

This article in The Press today did an excellent job highlighting the current bureaucratic challenges associated with getting access to evidence-based treatments, whereby medsafe just follow rules without considering the impact on the public nor do they try to solve problems.

A novel experience for me - giving mental hacks "on the couch" with RNZ afternoons. Today we talked about gratitude journals and how beneficial they are for your mental health. What a great opportunity to share all the science behind easy ways to improve your wellbeing. Everyday this week at 3:30.

Want to learn more? Look at the courses offered through University of Canterbury UC Psychology, Speech and Hearing

Clinical psychologist Julia Rucklidge gives mental health hacks Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Today Julia Rucklidge gives Tony and Maggie some more helpful tips for our mental health tool kit.

Do you have a diagnosis of OCD?
Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you interested in whether what you eat impacts your OCD symptoms?

We are looking for you!

In this WORLD FIRST research trial, we are looking into whether a particular diet (of 8+ weeks in duration) may improve symptoms of OCD.

Available to NZ-based participants only.

To find out more, email Sophia at [email protected] as she’d love to hear from you.

So looking forward to sharing this knowledge in Napier in March

Uncomfortable Truth: Our modern food environment is messing with our mental health 🤯

Join us and the amazing Professor Julia Rucklidge as she dives into the fascinating connection between what we eat and how we feel. She will share practical tips to tweak your diet and boost your brain health.

Learn simple, practical tips to improve your diet and support your brain health—all backed by scientific evidence of course!

This is more than just a talk; it’s an opportunity to challenge how we currently approach mental health in our community and explore small, meaningful changes that can make a big difference. Prof. Rucklidge will also share actionable advice you can easily apply in the kitchen, in schools, and across the community.

We’re really looking forward to this event, and we think you will too!

Find more information and tickets on our website or through Eventfinda.

https://www.healhb.co.nz/events-1
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/building-better-brain-nutrition-and-mental-wellness/napier

Julia Rucklidge - Mental Health & Nutrition Research: Te Puna Toiora