“B”eat Depression

Essential for mental and emotional well-being, B-complex vitamins must be replenished to the body on a daily basis.  Osvaldo Almeida, from the University of Western Australia (Australia), and colleagues enrolled 153 adult residents of Perth, ages 50 years and older, who were experiencing a major depressive episode, to receive an antidepressant medication together with 0.5 mg of vitamin B12, 2 mg of folic acid and 25 mg of vitamin B6 for 52 weeks.  Symptom changes were assessed via standardized rating scales.  Remission of symptoms was achieved by 78.1 and 79.4% of participants treated with placebo and vitamins by week 12, by 76.5 and 85.3% at week 26, and 75.8 and 85.5% at week 52. Further, the risk of relapse was significantly reduced among participants who took the B-vitamins.  The study authors conclude that: “B vitamins did not increase the 12-week efficacy of antidepressant treatment, but enhanced and sustained antidepressant response over 1 year.”