B vitamin supplementation in treating depression

Abstract

Objectives: 1. To assess if B vitamin supplementation decreases symptoms of depression. 2. To assess if B vitamin supplementation decreases depressive symptoms in people who take antidepressants yet still experience symptoms of depression. 3. To assess if dietary intake of B vitamins affects the efficacy of B vitamin supplementation in reducing symptoms of depression. Participants: 33 medicated and unmedicated adult students and staff with depressive symptoms at a small regional university in the Midwest, in February 2013. Methods: Participants took a B vitamin supplement daily for 28 days. Presence of depressive symptoms was assessed before and after the intervention using the CES-D Scale. Dietary B vitamin intake was determined by two 24-hour food recalls. Results: There was a significant decrease in depressive symptoms from baseline (M = 31.4, SD = 9.6) and at post-intervention (M = 18.9, SD = 10.4), t(32) = 7.08, p < .001, regardless of medication status and dietary intake of B vitamins. Conclusions: This research suggests that B vitamin supplementation may reduce depressive symptoms in people whether medicated or unmedicated with antidepressants, and regardless of their dietary B vitamin intake. Larger, placebo-controlled trials using a B complex supplement are warranted to further investigate B vitamins in treating depression, so that mental health professionals have an alternative or adjunct treatment for patients who are unwilling or unable