Finding ways to limit chronic pain using supplements or other treatments could help reduce symptoms of depression, according to new research that supports the idea that each condition can contribute to the other’s development.

The problem is most prevalent among middle-aged women because of the increased likelihood for chronic pain conditions and accompanying depression as people grow older, according to researchers at Wayne State University who interviewed 1,100 residents in Michigan.

About one in five reported chronic pain lasting six months or longer, and about 35 percent of those in pain also said they suffered from depression.

African-Americans are also more likely to develop the conditions, noted the scientists who say that treatment strategies may explain the racial difference.

Using antioxidants to reduce pain from some inflammatory conditions may help reduce the likelihood of the intertwined condition, according to scientists at All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The supplements helped reduce the number of pain medications taken by pancreatitis sufferers, the researchers found, and was three times more effective than placebos in helping patients become pain-free.