Can Vitamin B6 Help Relieve Anxiety?

Anxiety has a huge impact on the well-being and livelihood of Americans. While there are medications that have been used to treat various forms of anxiety, it can still be difficult for many people to find relief. Furthermore, the drugs often have side effects that patients would prefer to avoid. For these reasons, researchers continue to explore new and novel means to treat psychological issues like anxiety. One intriguing area of research is the therapeutic use of vitamin supplements to help patients mitigate the effects of depression and anxiety.

One of these studies was conducted by investigators at the UK University of Reading, specifically analyzing the effects of B12 and B6 on mental health. These vitamins are found in several foods, with high concentrations in tuna and chickpeas, for example. In this study, participants were prescribed doses of Vitamins B6 and B12 much larger than normally absorbed through diet. This research was revealed in a recent publication of Human Psychopharmacology.

While both vitamins offered psychological benefits to patients, Vitamin B6 offered the most potent results with regard to anxiety relief. It's believed that Vitamin B6 improved mental well-being because it facilitated the function of GABA neurotransmitters. GABA helps rein in nervous system activity; when these neurotransmitters link with GABA Receptors, it is known to regulate feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety.

Anxiety Rampant in American Society

Anxiety is incredibly and unfortunately common in the United States. It's estimated that nearly 1/3rd of Americans will be personally impacted by an anxiety disorder sometime in their lives. Anxiety and depression often travel hand in hand, and both may require therapeutic solutions to overcome.

The goal of this study was to examine how Vitamins B6 and B12 impacted the activity of the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) Neurotransmitter. Healthy brain activity depends on the relative equilibrium between excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Excitatory neurons facilitate the dispersal of neurological messages, while inhibitory neurons help keep the system in control.

Why Do Scientists Think Vitamins B6 and B12 May Help Control Anxiety?

It's believed that many psychological issues are caused by an imbalance of these neurons, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and autism. These mental conditions often have a sensory component that is also linked to the same neurological dysfunctions.

The authors of this anxiety research point out that Vitamin B6 plays a role in several pathways hypothesized to inhibit neural hyperactivity. They also note that Vitamin B12 is involved in at least two of these pathways, which is why they chose to test the effects of Vitamin B6 and B12 Supplementation simultaneously.

Exploring How Vitamin B6 and B12 Supplementation May Improve Mental Health

Four hundred seventy-eight subjects were selected for this study, all reporting to deal with depression and anxiety. These participants were divided randomly into three groups. The control group received placebo, while the other two groups took Vitamin B12 or Vitamin B6. The B6 group received 100 mg tablets, and the B12 group took a 1 mg dose, both of which were far above the FDA recommendations of 1.7 mg and 2.4mcg, respectively. This is still safe because B Vitamins are water-soluble, and any excess passes through the urine. They stayed on the regimen for a month.

Researchers tested the participants for depression and anxiety before the experiment began and as it concluded. Subjects also performed some tactile and visual tests as the trial ended. The study offered promising results for Vitamin B6, as volunteers had significantly improved anxiety/depression scores in comparison to placebo.

Study author Professor David Field believes this is because Vitamin B6 helps downregulate chemical impulses associated with anxiety. Specifically, he thinks this modulation is the result of inhibition via GABA neurotransmitter. Vitamin B6 takers also showed improved surround suppression when detecting visual contrast, another potential sign of GABA inhibition.

Subjects taking Vitamin B12 performed slightly better on depression and anxiety surveys in contrast to placebo, but scores did not reach significance. The researchers consider it possible that continued B12 supplementation could provide positive results in a longer timeframe.

Vitamin B6 Supplementation Could Be a Useful Tool Against Anxiety

This research provides evidence that people struggling with depression and anxiety may benefit from the inclusion of a B6 supplement in their therapeutic regimen. Some patients with mild issues related to anxiety and depression may take advantage of Vitamin B6 in lieu of pharmaceutical intervention, though they should always follow a doctor or therapist's recommendation. Vitamin B6 is readily available wherever supplements are sold, making them an easy and affordable addition to existing treatment plans.

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