In a recent study, scientists found vitamin C could help reduce anxiety.
Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant that is involved in anxiety, stress, depression, fatigue, and mood state in humans.
Previous studies have found that oxidative stress may trigger neuropsychological disorders.
Antioxidants may play an important role in combating the damage caused by oxidative stress in individuals that suffer from anxiety.
It is hypothesized that oral vitamin C supplementation would reduce anxiety. However, few up-to-date studies have evaluated the consequences of oral vitamin C supplementation on anxiety in humans.
In the study, the team examined the effects of oral vitamin C supplements in 42 students. The students were given either vitamin C (500 mg day(-1)) or a placebo.
The team examined the blood levels of vitamin C and blood pressure before the intervention and then one day after the intervention.
Anxiety levels were evaluated for each student before and after 14 days following supplementation with the Beck Anxiety Inventory.
The team showed that vitamin C reduced anxiety levels and led to higher blood vitamin C concentration compared to the placebo.
The mean heart rates were also very different between the vitamin C group and the placebo control group.
The team says the results not only provide evidence that vitamin C plays an important therapeutic role for anxiety but also point to a possible use of antioxidants in the prevention or reduction of anxiety.
This suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C may be an effective adjunct to medical and psychological treatment of anxiety and improve academic performance.
The research is published in Pak J Biol Sci and was done by Sérgio Leme Da-Silva.
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If you care about supplements, please read studies about people with diabetes should consider taking this vitamin, and vitamin K may lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about why it is difficult to stop using some depression drugs, and results showing people with these mental problems less likely to get COVID-19.
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