Some people can feel anxious or sad at times, and this may amount to a mental health disorder that requires treatment.
In this regard, researchers at Britain’s University of Reading studied how vitamins B6 and B12 can affect levels of stress and depression, according to Medical News Today.
Vitamins B6 and B12 are found in foods such as chickpeas and tuna, but the team of researchers tested the vitamins at levels much higher than those found in food.
The results of the study indicated that vitamin B6 might be useful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Study participants who received B6 tablets experienced a significant decrease in the SCAARED and MFQ tests.
“Vitamin B6 helps the body produce a specific chemical messenger that blocks impulses in the brain, and our study links this calming effect to reduced anxiety among participants,” said David Field, the study’s principal investigator and assistant professor in the University of Reading’s School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences.
The B6 group in the test at the end of the trial also showed an increase in “peripheral suppression for visual contrast detection,” with the researchers writing that this test “disputes the existence of an underlying inhibitory mechanism associated with the neurotransmitter GABA.”
While participants in the vitamin B12 group reported a slight improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression.
b6
fresh air
“The study results might be a breath of fresh air for people with anxiety disorders who have not had new treatment options for a long time,” said Dr. Tom McClaren, a consultant psychiatrist.
The results of the study might be beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety or depression in multiple ways. Vitamin B6 supplements are readily available over the counter in most drugstores and even on supermarket shelves.
