Vitamin B6 shows promise against depression

Researchers at the University of Reading in the UK found that taking a high dose of vitamin B6 could significantly reduce symptoms of depression in people experiencing them, describing the findings as promising.

The study, published in the journal Depression and Anxiety, involved 268 participants who were randomly assigned to three groups. For one month, participants received either 100 milligrams of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or a placebo each day.

The results showed that participants who had depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study experienced a significantly greater reduction in symptoms after one month compared with those in the other two groups. A similar effect was also observed among participants whose symptoms were slightly below the threshold for mild depression, although the effect was less pronounced.

The significance of the findings goes beyond the positive results themselves. Researchers say the study is the first randomized controlled trial to directly demonstrate the potential of vitamin B6 as a possible treatment for depression. It also builds on earlier research examining the relationship between vitamin B6 levels and mental health.

How could vitamin B6 affect mood?

The potential link may partly lie in the brain. Vitamin B6 plays a role in the production of several chemical messengers, including serotonin and GABA, which are important in regulating mood.

According to lead researcher Dr. David Field, increased levels of these neurotransmitters could be one explanation for the reduction in depressive symptoms observed among participants.

This is not the first time Field’s research team has investigated the effects of high-dose vitamin B6 on mental health. A 2022 study led by Field found that high doses of the vitamin could also help reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Vitamin B6 is widely available in everyday foods, including chicken and turkey, fish, liver, eggs, whole grains, bananas, lentils, leafy green vegetables, walnuts, avocados and sunflower seeds.

Severe vitamin B6 deficiency is relatively uncommon. However, previous studies have suggested that lower levels of the vitamin may be associated with more severe depressive symptoms.

Despite the encouraging findings, researchers are not yet describing vitamin B6 as a definitive treatment for depression. The University of Reading has emphasized that larger clinical trials are needed to determine the treatment’s effectiveness and safety more precisely.

No side effects were reported by participants in the current study. Nevertheless, future research will need to examine the potential risks associated with long-term or high-dose vitamin B6 supplementation in greater detail.