Whilst the area
of nutrition is often discussed only in terms of physical health, a vast amount
of research links the use of dietary supplements with positive effects on
behaviour and mental health. A recent study of more than 2000 people
found low plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations were associated with higher
depression scores, and low vitamin B-6 concentrations were associated lower attention
and executive function. 1
In another study
from the University of Sheffield regular supplementation of hospitalised older
people with multivitamins and minerals improved mental health, compared to a
placebo.2 The prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
included 225 hospitalised, acutely ill older people with an average age of
75.6. Participants received either a normal hospital diet plus multivitamin and
mineral supplements providing 100% of the Reference Nutrient Intakes for six
weeks or a normal hospital diet plus a placebo for six weeks. Levels of folate
and vitamin B12 in red blood cells and plasma, respectively, increased
significantly in the supplement group but decreased in the placebo group.
Beneficial effects for symptoms of depression scores were observed for patients
in the supplementation group regardless of the initial level of depression of
the individual. The authors wrote, “Many epidemiological and case-control
studies have shown associations between folate and vitamin B12 deficiency and
depression. In a study of 3,500 over-65-year-olds in Chicago over an average of
7.2 years of follow-up, the researchers noted that increased intakes of
vitamins from food and supplements B6 and B12 were associated with a ‘decreased
likelihood of incident depression.’” Vitamin B12 is involved in the synthesis
of monoamines, some of which act as neurotransmitters and may also inhibit the
accumulation of the amino acid homocysteine, which may lead to toxic reactions
that enhance depression. For every 10-milligram increase in the intake of
vitamin B6 and for every 10-microgram increase in vitamin B12,
the risk of developing symptoms of depression
was decreased by two percent per year.3
2 Gariballa and Forster 2007
3 Skarupski
et al. 2010
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