Researchers from the University of Reading looked at the effects of high doses of vitamin B6 in young adults and found that they felt less anxious and depressed after taking the supplements daily for a month.
The study has now been published in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. The study adds to the evidence supporting the use of supplements thought to alter levels of brain activity to prevent or treat mood disorders.
David Field, lead author of the study, from the University of Reading’s School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, said: “The functioning of the brain depends on the interaction between excitatory neurons, which carry information, and inhibitory neurons, which prevent uncontrolled activity. Delicate balance. Recent theories link mood disorders and other neuropsychiatric disorders to disturbances in this balance, often in the direction of increasing brain activity levels. Vitamin B6 helps the body produce a specific chemical messenger that inhibits the brain impulsivity, and our study linked this calming effect to reduced anxiety in participants.”
While previous research has suggested that multivitamins or maltose may reduce stress levels, few studies have looked at which vitamin is responsible for this effect.
Current research focuses on the potential role of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is known to boost the body’s production of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a molecule that blocks nerve cell impulses in the brain.
In the current study, more than 300 people were randomly assigned to either a vitamin B6 or B12 supplement or a placebo that greatly exceeded the recommended daily consumption (about 50 times the recommended daily consumption). Participants took one daily with meals for a month.
The study showed that the effect of vitamin B12 was small compared to placebo during the trial period, but there was a statistically reliable difference for vitamin B6.
Visual tests performed at the end of the trial confirmed increased levels of GABA in participants taking vitamin B6 supplements, supporting the hypothesis that B6 is responsible for reducing anxiety. Subtle but harmless changes in visual performance were detected consistent with controlled levels of brain activity.
Dr Field said: “Many foods including tuna, chickpeas and many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin B6. However, the high doses used in this trial suggest that supplementation is required to have a positive effect on mood. It is important to Acknowledging that this research is in its early stages, the effect of vitamin B6 on anxiety in our study was quite small compared to what you would expect from medication. However, nutrition-based interventions produced far fewer unpleasant side effects than medication. so people may prefer to use them as an intervention in the future.”
To make this a realistic option, further research is needed to identify other nutrition-based interventions that benefit mental health, so that different dietary interventions can be combined in the future to provide greater effects. One potential option is to combine vitamin B6 supplementation with talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy to enhance its effects,” he continued.