Vitamin B12 May Help With Depression
Tuesday December 2, 2003
Vitamin B12 may help people fight depression, a new study published in the journal BMC suggests.
Researchers found that people with depression responded better to anti-depressants if they had higher blood levels of vitamin B12. They monitored 115 outpatients receiving treatment for depression over a six-month period, taking into consideration additional factors such as smoking, drinking habits, type of treatment received, and family history of depression.
One theory on the benefit of vitamin B12 is that it helps manufacture compounds called monoamines in the central nervous system. A shortage is believed to be linked to depression. Another theory is that when there is a deficiency of B vitamins such as vitamin B12, another compound called homocysteine accumulates which may enhance depression.
Learn more about alternative approaches to depression.
Researchers found that people with depression responded better to anti-depressants if they had higher blood levels of vitamin B12. They monitored 115 outpatients receiving treatment for depression over a six-month period, taking into consideration additional factors such as smoking, drinking habits, type of treatment received, and family history of depression.
One theory on the benefit of vitamin B12 is that it helps manufacture compounds called monoamines in the central nervous system. A shortage is believed to be linked to depression. Another theory is that when there is a deficiency of B vitamins such as vitamin B12, another compound called homocysteine accumulates which may enhance depression.
Learn more about alternative approaches to depression.
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