Do you ever experience anxiety? It could be related to your nutrition. B vitamins are related to brain metabolism and function, and they may impact mood. New research has further evidence that B vitamins may impact how you feel, including your anxiety. Here’s a look at how vitamins B6 and B12 can affect anxiety.
If you’re concerned about getting enough B vitamins, the Vitamin B12 Energy Plus Patch by PatchAid has a lot of them! It’s an easy way to get more vitamins and relieve your worries.
Research on Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, and Anxiety
A recent study by researchers at the University of Reading looked at the effects of vitamin supplements on some aspects of mental health, including anxiety. They gave one group of participants vitamin B6. Another group received vitamin B12. A third group got a placebo. The participants were all people who had reported having symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Researchers were largely interested in GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that is linked to calmness. They also tested participants’ chances of having anxiety or depression based on accepted screening tools.
The results were promising for both vitamins, with anxiety and depression decreasing over the study duration compared to the placebo or control group. The improvements were more dramatic among those in the vitamin B6 group compared to the control group.
Anxiety in the US
Anxiety and mood disorders are common in the US. It’s hard to know for sure, but as many as 1 in 3 experience anxiety, depression, or another mood disorder. There can be many contributing factors to a mood disorder, including chemical imbalances in the brain, situational factors, life events, and other influences.
Sometimes, healthcare providers prescribe medications to help with a mood disorder or anxiety. Examples include Anax and busprinone. Many people turn to herbal supplements to reduce anxiety.
Background on B Vitamins
B vitamins are a wide group of vitamins. They’re water soluble, like vitamin C. Some are needed for energy-producing reactions in your body. They are also essential for proper metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Some B vitamins are needed for synthesizing compounds in your body such as proteins and red blood cells.
Sources of B Vitamins
There are many B vitamins, and they are in a lot of foods. Vegetables, fruit, potatoes, grains, beans, meat, poultry, and seafood all have one or more B vitamins. Some people can get enough B vitamins from their diet alone, but not everyone does.
These are some groups of people with increased risk for a deficiency of one or more B vitamins.
- Older adults.
- People who follow a plant-based or vegan diet.
- People whose diet is restricted or includes only certain food groups.
- Bariatric surgery patients.
- People who misuse alcohol.
It’s also possible to develop B vitamin deficiencies if you’re not in any of these groups.
If you have one or more risk factors for a deficiency or your healthcare provider recommends it, you can get your levels tested. You’d need to get different tests for different B vitamins. A doctor might recommend a B vitamin supplement if you are low in one or more B vitamins or have risk factors. Your choice could be the Vitamin B12 Energy Plus Patch by PatchAid.
B Vitamin Patch and Anxiety
The Vitamin B12 Energy Plus Patch by PatchAid is packed with B vitamins, including biotin. It has vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), folic acid, and vitamin B12. It also has choline, ginseng, and rhodiola.
Can this patch help with anxiety? It does have the two supplements used in the study, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. If you are deficient in these vitamins, using this patch would be a choice of supplements that doesn’t cause you to need to swallow big capsules or chew chalky tablets.
There is more to consider. For example, B vitamins are needed in energy-producing reactions. Having energy to handle things could certainly help reduce anxiety. It might enable you to be more confident or get more done so you can stress less.
Other Strategies for Reducing Anxiety
Staying in good status regarding B vitamins could help with anxiety, but you’ll be better off if you add a few supporting factors. These are some other ways to help with anxiety.
- Eating a high-nutrient diet, with foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, beans, and whole grains.
- Limiting highly processed and low-nutrient foods, such as refined starches, fried foods, chips, and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages.
- Exercising regularly, with your doctor’s approval.
- Spending time with friends and family.
- Making a list of what you need to do and scheduling time to do each item.
- Letting go of things you cannot control.
It also helps to accept your anxiety. Acknowledging it and embracing it can help make its negative effects less powerful.
Anxiety can be impactful and even debilitating. There are many possible causes of anxiety, and it seems as though some B vitamins play a role in some of the neural pathways linked to feelings of anxiety. Vitamin B12 Energy Plus Patch by PatchAid has high amounts of B vitamins, including vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Just ask your doctor before taking any nutritional supplements, and always bring up any health concerns with a provider.
*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. PatchAid patches are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone with a medical condition should seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner. Individual results may vary.
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