Table 1.
Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials investigating the effects of B vitamins on mood.
| Study | Sample Size | Gender | Participant Characteristics | Age range (years) | Intervention | Length of intervention | Biomedical measures | Mood measures a | Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Mood | Depressive Symptoms | Anxiety Symptoms | Stress | |||||||||
| Armborst et al. (2018) |
n = 59 tx = 29 pb = 30 |
69% female | Chronic psychological stress | 18–65 | Multivitamin | 12 weeks | N/A | PSQ, VAS | + | |||
| Camfield et al. (2013) |
n = 138 tx = 56 pb = 60 |
56% female | Healthy | 20–50 | Multivitamin | 16 weeks | B6, B12, RC folate, homocysteine | PSS | n.s | |||
| Carroll et al. (2000) |
n = 80 tx = 40 pb = 40 |
100% male | Healthy | 18–42 | Multivitamin | 28 days | N/A | GHQ, HADS, PSS, rating scales | + | n.s | + | + |
| Cockle et al. (2000) |
n = 139 tx = 66 pb = 61 |
63% female | Healthy | 60–83 | Multivitamin | 24 weeks | B1, B2, B6, folate, B12 | POMS | n.s | |||
| Ford et al. (2008) |
n = 299 tx = 118 pb = 123* |
100% male | Being treated for, or had a history of hypertension | > 75 | B vitamins only | 2 years | B12, RC folate, homocysteine | BDI | n.s | |||
| Gosney et al. (2008) |
n = 73 tx = 26 pb = 33 |
Not specified | nursing home residents | > 60 | Multivitamin | 8 weeks | Folate | MADRS, HADS | + b | n.s | ||
| Hallert et al. (2009) |
n = 65 tx = 28 pb = 29 |
61% women | coeliac patients | 45–64 | B-group vitamins only | 6 months | Serum folate, B12, homocysteine | PGWB | + c | + c | + c | |
| Harris et al. (2011) |
n = 56 tx = 25 pb = 25 |
100% male | sedentary occupation/little exercise | 50–69 | Multivitamin | 8 weeks | N/A | GHQ, DASS, PSS, POMS, VAS | + d | n.s | n.s | n.s |
| Haskell et al. (2010) |
n = 226 tx = 106 pb = 110 |
100% female | occasional subjective fatigue | 25–50 | Multivitamin | 9 weeks | Hcy | Quality of life (SF36), CFS, POMS | n.s | |||
| Kennedy et al. (2010) |
n = 215 tx = 103 pb = 107 |
100% male | Healthy | 30–55 | Multivitamin | 33 days | N/A | POMS, PSS, GHQ, Bond Lader, VAS | + e | n.s | + | |
| Kennedy et al. (2011) |
n = 215 tx = 94 pb = 104 |
100% male | Healthy | 30–55 | Multivitamin | 28 days | N/A | Bond Lader, VAS | ||||
| Long and Benton (2013) |
n = 101 tx = 43 + 41 pb = 42 |
100% male | Healthy | M= 20.9 | Multivitamin | 12 weeks | N/A | Picture frustration, Buss-Perry Aggression Scale, PSS | + | |||
| Macpherson et al. (2016) |
n = 76 tx = 37 pb = 36 |
100% female | Healthy | 50–75 | Multivitamin | 4 weeks | N/A | STAI, GHQ, HADS, Bond-Lader, VAS, PSS, CFS | n.s | n.s | n.s | n.s |
| Oliver-Baxter et al. (2018) |
n = 50 tx = 22 pb = 28 |
100% female | Elevated psychological distress | 25–45 | Multivitamin | 8 weeks | Folic acid | STPI | n.s | n.s | ||
| Pipingas et al. (2013) |
n = 138 tx = 56 pb = 60 |
56% female | Healthy | 20–50 | Multivitamin | 16 weeks | N/A | GHQ, POMS, CFS, Bond-Lader, VAS, STAI | n.s | n.s | + f | |
| Schlebusch et al. (2000) |
n = 300 tx = 151 pb = 149 |
Not specified | Highly stressed employees | 18–65 | Multivitamin | 30 days | N/A | HARS, PGWB, VAS, BSI | + | + | + | |
| Stough et al. (2011) |
n = 80 tx = 20 + 22 pb = 18 |
66% female | Healthy | M = 42.2 | Multivitamin | 90 days | N/A | STAI, POMS, PSQ | n.s | n.s | n.s | + |
| White et al. (2015) |
n = 58 tx = 28 pb = 30 |
50% female | Healthy | 18–40 | Multivitamin | 4 weeks | B6, B12, folate, homocysteine | POMS, PSS, VAS, STAI | n.s | + | n.s | n.s |
* Intention to Treat analysis included n = 138 per group. + indicates a statistically significant benefit to mood symptoms at the p < 0.05 level. n.s; not significant. a PSS: Perceived Stress Scale; GHQ: General Health Questionnaire; HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; POMS: Profile of Mood States; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; MADRS: Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale; PGWB: Psychological General Well-Being Index; DASS: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; VAS: Visual Analogue Scales; CFS: Chalder Fatigue Scale; STAI: State Trait Anxiety Inventory; HARS: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; PSQ: Personal Strain Questionnaire; STPI: State-Trait Personality Inventory. b Effect was only evident for individuals who had poor depression scores at baseline (n = 18). c Effect was only evident for individuals who had reduced psychological wellbeing at baseline (n = 23). d Effect was significant as measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and General Health Questionnaire, but no effect for Profile of Mood Scales. e Effect was significant as by General Health Questionnaire, but no effect for Profile of Mood Scales. f Effect was only evident in males (n = 51).