High-dose vitamin B6 pills have been shown to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, according to new research.
Young adults studied at the University of Reading reported less of these feelings after one month of taking the supplements.
Previous studies have suggested that multivitamins may reduce stress levels, but few have studied exactly which vitamins may be responsible.
Vitamin B6 is known to increase the production of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a chemical that blocks impulses between nerve cells in the brain.
The lead author, Dr. David Field, said that vitamin “helps the body produce a specific chemical messenger that inhibits impulses to the brain, and our study relates this calming effect to a reduction in anxiety among participants. “.
About 478 people participated and were randomly given a placebo or vitamin B6 or B12 at doses higher than the normal recommendation.
The study found that B12 showed little difference with placebo, but B6 had a noticeable effect on participants and increased their GABA levels.
Tuna, chickpeas and many fruits and vegetables contain the vitamin, but Dr. Field said supplementation would probably be needed to achieve a positive effect on a person’s mood.
He said the research was in an early stage – and the effects were “quite small” compared to the medication – but that B6 could be combined with more traditional therapies.
“A potential option would be to combine vitamin B6 supplements with talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to increase their effect,” he said.
He added that another benefit is that “nutrition-based interventions produce far fewer unpleasant side effects than drugs.”
The research is published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental.