Table of Contents
Vitamins are an essential component of a healthy diet. Each vitamin serves a distinct function in the human body. Vitamin B is involved in a wide range of anabolic and catabolic cellular activities critical for the nervous system and brain function, including some that maintain a proper balance of neural inhibition and excitation by up-regulating inhibition and down-regulating excitation.
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Neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression and anxiety may occur due to neuronal equilibrium changes. Thus, vitamin B’s role in downregulating excitation is crucial.
Despite Vitamin B’s crucial systemic role, many people do not meet the daily average. According to new research, taking high-dose Vitamin B6 supplements help lower feelings of worry and despair. The experiment shows that B6’s soothing effect on the brain may make it effective in mood disorders. The University of Reading researchers wanted to see how the vitamin affected the two primary mental health issues. The study is now available online.
Vitamin B6 supplementation for depression and anxiety
The current study looked at the effects of high dosages of Vitamin B6 and discovered that after taking the vitamin supplements every day for a month, the participants reported feeling less worried and depressed.
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The brain’s operation depends on a careful balance between excitatory neurons, which transport signals, and inhibitory neurons, which prevent excessive activity. Recent hypotheses have linked mood disorders and several other psychological illnesses to a disruption of this balance, frequently in the direction of increased brain activity. Vitamin B6 aids the body in producing a specific chemical neurotransmitter that suppresses impulses in the brain, resulting in a calming effect and decreased anxiety.
Previous studies on vitamins have found that they function in stress reduction. However, only a few studies have aimed to determine which vitamins induce these systemic changes. The current study concentrated on the function of Vitamin B6 on brain physiology. GABA, a chemical messenger that prevents impulses between neurons in the brain, is known to be produced by vitamin B6. In the current study, over 300 participants were randomly assigned to either Vitamin B6 or B12 supplements considerably beyond the recommended daily consumption, or a placebo, and took one a day with food for a month. The study found that vitamin B12 had no effect compared to the placebo, whereas B6 had a statistically significant benefit.
Clinical significance
Anxiety and depression are common worldwide. The new study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of Vitamin B6 supplements in the therapy of mood disorders. The use of Vitamin B supplements could help reduce the high occurrence of these illnesses.
Read Also: Bleeding Gums Could Indicate Vitamin C Deficiency Study Shows
Conclusion
Vitamin B6 has proven to be vital in neuron regulation in brain physiology. Vitamin B6 pills could help those who want to minimize their anxiety and depression and the adverse effects of their antidepressant drugs.
References
High-dose Vitamin B6 supplementation reduces anxiety and strengthens visual surround suppression
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