May Improve Mood and Reduce Symptoms of Depression

The modulation of mood is significantly aided by vitamin B6. This is partially due to the fact that this vitamin is required for the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, which control emotions (GABA). High blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which have been connected to depression and other mental conditions, may be reduced by vitamin B6. Studies have indicated that low blood levels and intakes of vitamin B6 are linked to depressive symptoms, particularly in older persons who are at a higher risk for B vitamin insufficiency.

In one research of 250 senior citizens, it was shown that low blood levels of vitamin B6 more than quadrupled the risk of depression. The effectiveness of vitamin B6 in treating or preventing depression, however, has not been shown. In a controlled two-year trial including about 300 older men who were free of depression at the beginning, it was discovered that supplement users of vitamins B6, folate (B9), and B12 were no less likely than the placebo group to experience depressive symptoms.