Study: Improvement of cognition and mood with multivitamin/mineral in healthy men
Study: Improvement of cognition and mood with multivitamin/mineral in healthy men
The present study is about examining the effects of a high-dose B vitamin complex supplement in combination with vitamin C and minerals for the mood and performance of healthy men. It is a randomized, placebo -controlled double -blind study in which 210 male volunteers aged 30 to 55. The participants received a tablet of the multivitamin/mineral preparation Berocca® every day, which contained various B vitamins, vitamin C and minerals. The primary results were measured by various questionnaires for the mood and stress perception as well as by cognitive tests. The study showed significant improvements in the perceived stress stress, in general health state and in the subscala "power" of the mood questionnaire in the group, which took up the multivitamin/mineral preparation. In addition, this group cut off better in a cognitive test and stated that they are less "mentally tired". The results indicate that an addition to B vitamins, vitamin C and certain minerals can have positive effects on the mood and cognitive skills, even in healthy adults.
Reference
Kennedy D, Veasy R, Watson a, et al. Effects of a high-dose B-vitamin complex with vitamin C and minerals on the subjective mood and performance of healthy men psychopharmacology. 2010; 211: 55-68.
Design
randomized, placebo -controlled double -blind study
participant
215 healthy male volunteers at the age of 30–55 years were recruited. 210 completed the study (placebo group = 107, multivitamin/mineral group = 103).
Intervention
1 tablet daily of a multivitamin/mineral (Berocca®). Each tablet contained: B1 (15 mg), B2 (15 mg), B6 (10 mg), B12 (10 µg), vitamin C (500 mg), biotin (150 µg), folic acid (400 µg), nicotinamide (50 mg), pantothenic acid (23 mg), calcium (100 mg) and and Zinc (10 mg).
primary result dimensions
The cognitive assessment was carried out 1 day before and 1 day after 33 days of intervention or placebo. A mood profile (poms), a scale for perceived stress (PSS) and General Health Questionaire-12 (GHQ-12) were used. At the beginning of the study and at the end of the study, a 60-minute cognitive requirement battery was also carried out.
most important knowledge
The intervention group recorded significant improvements in the PSS, in GHQ-12 and in the subscala "force" of the Poms questionnaire. In addition, the intervention group at the serial 3-subtraction test performed better and reported that at the end of the study it was less "mentally tired" both before and after the cognitive test.
clinical implications
The use of vitamin/mineral supplements in healthy adults is enjoying growing popularity. It is not known whether this is an advantage in populations that are assumed that they are nutritious and without pathology. Although this study is small, it suggests that cognitive and mood improvements can be observed a month after the start of B-complex intake with vitamin C and calcium/magnesium/zinc.
As with any nutrient intervention study, the question of a lack of nutrients must be asked before the intervention. This Swiss study is characterized by the recruitment of healthy, fully professional men, a population from which it is assumed that it is sufficiently fed. Although sufficient nutrient status was accepted, no serum measurements were carried out. The consumption of fruit and vegetables in the intervention group was 3.71 portions. In a US survey on fruit and vegetable consumption from 2005, only 27.2 % of adults ate three or more portions of vegetables per day. 1 The significant improvement in cognitive skills and mood through the additional intervention In this study, the participants did not optimally showed one or more of the nutrients contained in the supplement. Since the admission of these participants is higher than that of the majority of the Americans, it can be assumed that there are also suboptimal values in our patients, who are otherwise "healthy".
This is not the first study that shows a mood improvement through the B complex/vitamin C/mineral formula. Schlebusch et al. showed that after 28 days of the nutritional supplement the fear decreased significantly and improved well-being. For the naturopath practitioner, these results are not surprising. In most protocols, B complex is a fundamental addition to our patients who feel “strongly stressed”. In fact, the reputation of B vitamins, to help with stress, is also well established in public, as evidenced by product names such as "stress-B complex". But to what extent is a nutritional supplement with B vitamins, vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc for otherwise healthy adults?
It is clear that the risk of supplementing these nutrients is negligible, but it entails considerable potential benefits. The answer to this question is unclear. It is clear that the risk of supplementing these nutrients is negligible, but it entails considerable potential benefits. While it is often claimed that a nutrient -rich diet should provide all vitamins and minerals that are needed for an optimal function, this study suggests something else. There is hardly a debate that it is advisable for every one to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables in order to consume sufficient nutrients through diet. This study, along with the others who confirm, could be an impetus for us to secure this assumption of a sufficient supply by a small nutritional supplement.