A study published in BMC Psychiatry, an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles, found that taking vitamin B12 may be helpful in treating depression.

The research, completed by Kuopio University in Finland, monitored 115 outpatients over a six-month period, measuring the levels of B12 in their blood before and after treatment. They found that those with higher levels of vitamin B12 in their blood during both measurements, responded better to treatment. The research suggests that supplementing vitamin B12 may enhance the effectiveness of anti-depressants.

The results were considerable, even when taking other influences into account, such as family history, as well as drinking and smoking habits.

Vitamin B12 is imperative to normal red blood cell formation and tissue and cellular repair, as well as DNA synthesis. A deficiency in this essential vitamin can lead to an oxygen-transport disorder known as pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia can cause irritability, confusion, mood swings, hallucinations and mania. A deficiency in vitamin B12 takes three to five years to develop, since a large supply is stored in the liver.

The researchers noted that it may be possible that B12 is needed to produce monoamines, amine compounds containing one amino group, functioning as a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. Shortages of monoamines are thought to be related to depression. Another hypothesis is that a vitamin B12 deficiency causes a build up of homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, which could enhance depression.

7,000 lives are taken each year by suicide in the UK and Ireland, and seven out of ten recorded suicides are due to depression. Another concern is that many cases of depression are neither recognized nor treated, making these numbers even higher.

A lack of B12 has been associated with many medical conditions, such as anemia and Alzheimer’s. B12, like many other vitamins can be found naturally in most animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs and milk and milk products.

Although the research had a positive and substantial outcome showing that those with higher levels of B12 vitamin in their bloodstream benefited most from anti-depressant treatment, more studies are needed to prove that taking a vitamin B12 supplement could treat depression.