One recent study on the effects of 90-day B-complex supplementation has been promising. Compared to the placebo, the vitamin B complex reduced the occurrence of depressed mood and personal strain. Furthermore, b-complex vitamins for 90 days showed reduced stress and mental fatigue. This effect was maintained throughout the 90-day supplementation. However, the study’s findings are far from conclusive. There are many other factors to consider when deciding if vitamin B complex supplements are right for you.
Anemia
The symptoms of pernicious anemia are multifarious and insidious. Patients may experience fatigue, pallor, incontinence, psychosis, and generalized weakness. The disease is often difficult to diagnose due to a lack of diagnostic tools. Treatment involves repleting therapeutic doses of vitamin B12, either through intramuscular injection or oral supplementation. If left untreated, this disease may progress to fatal anemia.
In cases of pernicious anemia, methylmalonic acid (MMA) accumulates. This metabolite contributes to myelin damage, neurological deficits, and ataxia. Similarly, pernicious anemia leads to hyperplasia of ECL cells and atrophic gastritis. In some cases, patients develop neurologic deficits or gastric cancer.
Hyperhomocysteinemia
One study reported that the homocysteine levels of subjects receiving a 90-day high-dose vitamin B supplement were significantly lower than those in placebo-treated individuals. The researchers found that the level of homocysteine in the placebo-treated group increased from 12.9 to 12.9 mmol/L at the end of the study. The difference was significant, indicating a significant effect of the vitamin B supplement.
In the study, patients with recurrent venous thrombosis, patients with thrombosis, and healthy volunteers were randomized to receive high-dose multivitamin supplements. The patients received a daily dose of 50 mg of pyridoxine, 0.4 mg of hydroxycobalamin, or 5 mg of folic acid. Participants took the supplement for 56 days, and blood samples were collected on day 90.
Cognitive decline
Recent studies have looked at the effects of B vitamins on cognition, particularly folate and vitamin B12. While most of these studies examined the impact of nutrients on general cognitive function, few have specifically studied the effect of specific vitamins or nutrients on specific mental constructs. Nevertheless, the results suggest that certain nutritional supplements may positively impact cognition, and further research is needed to explore the mechanisms involved.
One study involved 70 men in the Boston Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Homocysteine, a folate, B12, and vitamin B6 marker, was measured to determine whether participants were deficient in these vitamins. The researchers then assessed cognitive performance using a verbal ability, attention, memory, and spatial copying. The results of this study show that the intake of folate was protective for mental performance, while the effects of vitamin B12 were less clear.
Cardiovascular events
The role of vitamins in preventing and managing the cardiovascular disease is not well understood. There have been excellent reviews of the benefits of specific vitamins. Cardiovascular events after 90-day administration of high-dose vitamin B may not prevent all cardiovascular disorders. This review identifies the essential vitamins for cardiovascular health and reviews available evidence.
In addition to preventing cardiovascular disease, vitamin B may help maintain or improve endothelial function. Vitamins A, B, and E have antioxidant properties, which may contribute to their beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease. High-dose vitamin C therapy may reduce smokers’ risk of ischemic heart disease. In addition, vitamin C therapy may help restore coronary flow and prevent ischemia reinsurers.
Depression
The effects of a 90-day administration of a high-dose vitamin B supplement on depression were studied in a small study in healthy adults. The researchers found significant reductions in depressed mood and personal strain in the study participants. This result is consistent with previous studies on this subject. Furthermore, the results suggest that B vitamin supplementation may reduce workplace stress costs, both direct and indirect. Therefore, B multivitamins may be a cost-effective treatment for mood and psychological strain. They may even have societal benefits as they are proven to improve physical and mental well-being.
Another research looked at the efficacy and safety of methylcobalamin in ALS patients. The researchers put 373 individuals into three groups: 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg. The primary endpoints were the time intervals between prior incidents and changes in the ALSFRS-R score between baseline and week 182.
