High-Dose Vitamin B6 Shows Promise for Depression Symptoms in Small Trial

A randomized trial found that one month of high-dose vitamin B6 reduced depression symptoms in adults who already had mild or greater symptoms.

Medicine

Details

A small randomized trial has raised interest in vitamin B6 as a possible treatment for depression symptoms. The study assigned 267 adults to receive either 100 mg of vitamin B6 each day, vitamin B12, or a placebo for one month. The strongest improvement appeared among participants who already had mild or more severe depression symptoms at the start of the study. People whose scores were just below the moderate depression range also showed improvement. The researchers did not find a significant effect on anxiety or stress. The findings are promising but preliminary. The study was drawn largely from a younger, mostly female general population rather than a clinical group diagnosed with depression, and the follow-up lasted only one month. The researchers say larger clinical trials are needed to test whether the result holds in broader patient groups, determine the best dose and duration, and establish whether vitamin B6 works better as an add-on treatment or on its own. High-dose vitamin B6 also has an important safety issue: long-term excessive intake can cause peripheral neuropathy, which can involve numbness, tingling, or other nerve symptoms. The study itself therefore does not justify treating depression with high-dose vitamin B6 without medical guidance.

More videos

Up nextKeto Diet Shows Stronger Liver Benefits Than Mediterranean and Low-Fat Diets in New Trial