A DAILY vitamin supplement could be the key to reducing the symptoms of depression according to new research.
A team at the University of Reading, led by Dr David Field, has published the findings of a recent trial which shows that a high dose of Vitamin B6 could “significantly” reduce symptoms of depression for those who already experience them.
Published in the journal Depression and Anxiety, the trial asked participants to take a 100mg Vitamin B6 tablet every day for a month.
Those who reported mild or more severe depression at the start showed a reduction in symptoms compared to those given a placebo or Vitamin B12.
Those with depression symptoms at the start showed a large reduction compared to the other two groups.
The effect was also seen, to a lesser degree, in participants whose scores fell just below the clinical threshold for mild depression.
Scientists say the results are the first to come from a randomised controlled trial demonstrating the potential of Vitamin B6 as a treatment for depression, and build on a ‘substantial body’ of epidemiological evidence linking Vitamin B6 status with depression risk.
Vitamin B6 is found in a wide range of everyday foods, including chicken and turkey, fish, liver, eggs, whole grains such as oats and brown rice, bananas, fortified breakfast cereals, lentils, leafy greens, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and avocados.
Another good source of Vitamin B6 is Marmite.
While outright Vitamin B6 deficiency is uncommon, findings from previous studies suggest that lower than normal levels exacerbates depression symptoms, while increasing levels above those achieved through normal dietary intake reduces them.
The study follows work in 2022, also led by Dr Field, of the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at the university, which also sought to observe the interaction between Vitamin B12 and depression symtpoms.
Dr David Field, lead author from the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at the University of Reading, said: “Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world, but many patients choose not to take existing drug treatments either due to the side effects or because they find them ineffective.
“Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in the production of several chemical messengers in the brain, including serotonin and GABA, both of which are central to mood regulation.
“An increase in these neurotransmitters is the most likely reason why we found that taking a regular high dose of B6 for a month produced a significant reduction in depression symptoms in people who were experiencing them.
He explained: “This is a promising result that we believe justifies large-scale clinical trials to properly evaluate Vitamin B6 as a treatment for depression, either on its own or alongside existing therapies.
“While no side effects were reported by participants in this study, any trials would also monitor any potential side effects.”
