Home
/ CL Answers
/ I've heard that having low B-12 or B-6 can cause depression. Is that true?

www.consumerlab.com/answers/can-low-vitamin-b-12-or-b-6-cause-depression/low-b-vitamins-depression/

Save to favorites

This feature is restricted to active members.

Join now to save favorites and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.

Join Now

Already a member? Sign in here.

Our Members Asked:

I've heard that having low B-12 or B-6 can cause depression. Is that true?

Written by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated July 26, 2017 ⓘ

Answer:

Yes, being deficient in vitamin B-12 or B-6 can cause depression. Correcting a deficiency in one of these vitamins may help improve symptoms of depression, and some B vitamins may increase the effectiveness certain antidepressant medications, such as SSRI's. For more about B vitamins and depression, see the "What It Does" section of the B Vitamins Supplements Review >>

Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,400 reviews.

Join Now

Already a member? Sign In Here.

Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/

Loading Comments…

Submit your comment

This feature is restricted to active members.

Join now to add comments and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.

Join Now

Already a member? Sign in here.

Agree to Comment Terms

Please abide by the following:

If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
Please be respectful in your tone.
Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will posts that exceed 2,500 characters.

For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.

Your comment has been submitted

We will review your comment before it is posted.

Related Reviews (1)

B Vitamin Supplements

Related CL Answers (12)

Can taking B vitamin supplements help protect against mosquito bites?

Find out if taking B vitamin supplements can reduce the attraction of mosquitoes to people.

Woman in gray shirt standing outdoors and scratching her arm

Are light boxes effective for preventing and treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as "winter depression," or circadian rhythm disorders such as jet lag? Which light boxes are best?

Learn about the benefits and safety of light boxes (including who is most likely to benefit), how to use these devices, which commercially available products appear to meet the technical requirements, and who should not use light boxes.

Man reading a book while sitting in front of a light box

Does magnesium help with depression?

Find out if having low magnesium levels increases the risk of depression and if supplements such as magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, can help for depression. Also, find out how to make sure you are getting adequate magnesium. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Magnesium for Depression? -- Bottle of Magnesium Tablets

What are the symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency?

Learn more about symptoms of B6 deficiency, who is more likely to be deficient in vitamin B6 as well as how much vitamin B6 you should be getting. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Are lithium orotate supplements as effective and safe as prescription lithium for bipolar disease and depression?

Lithium orotate supplement info, including proper dosage, safety, and how lithium orotate supplements compare to prescription lithium for bipolar disease and depression.

Can any vitamins or minerals help prevent or reduce canker sores or cold sores?

Find out which, if any, supplements, including iron, L-lysine, monolaurin, olive leaf extract, vitamin B-12, and zinc, may be beneficial for canker sores or cold sores.

I was told I have a MTHFR gene mutation. Do I need to take methylated forms of B vitamins, such as methylfolate and methylcobalamin?

MTHFR gene mutation can impact B vitamin bioavailability. Learn more about this and which deficiencies are more likely to occur.

I have been having neurological symptoms. My blood test showed a toxic level of vitamin B-6. My multivitamin contains 75 mg of B-6 -- below the upper limit of 100 mg. Is the label wrong?

Find out if multivitamins contain excessive amounts ofvitamin B-6, symptoms of vitamin B-6 toxicity, and the daily Tolerable Upper Intake Level for B-6.

Vitamin B6 Toxicity -- Vitamin B6 Blood Test

What are the best supplements for depression and anxiety?

Best natural supplements for depression and anxiety, including the evidence for fish oil, vitamin D, probiotics, and herbal supplements for depression such as curcumin (from turmeric) and saffron.

Best Supplements for Depression and Anxiety -- sad young woman sitting on couch, looking toward the window

I'm taking Lumiday, a supplement to improve mood. It seems to help me but is it safe?

Lumiday info including side effects, drug interactions and reviews. Lumiday is a supplement marketed to improve mood.

I've read about several different forms of SAMe. Is one form better than another?

Learn about the various types of SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) supplements, along with their benefits for hormones & cell membrane health.

Elderly Man Clutching Fingers Due to Pain

I take fluoxetine (Prozac), a SSRI drug to treat depression. Are there supplements I should avoid, or be taking, due to this drug?

Learn about Prozac (fluoxetine) drug interactions along with other supplements and SSRIs.

Join our Free Newsletter and Become a Member to View the full Review!

Become a Member to View the Latest Update: in our Review

First Name

Email Address

I want to subscribe to ConsumerLab news emails, and I understand that I will have the option in the next step to become a paying member to read the full Review.

* We do not sell or share your personal information with anyone else, ever.

Already a member? Sign in here.

Join over 90,000 Members

Find the best products with instant access to our latest tests & reviews of over 1,400 health products.

Save money by finding high-quality products at lower cost.

Stay safe with the latest clinical findings & warnings.

See answers from our experts.

Stay informed with our e-newsletter.

Join Now

Ratings of ConsumerLab

Join our Free Newsletter and Become a Member to view the full answer to I've heard that having low B-12 or B-6 can cause depression. Is that true?

First Name

Email Address

I want to subscribe to ConsumerLab news emails, and I understand that I will have the option in the next step to become a paying member to read the full Answer.

* We do not sell or share your personal information with anyone else, ever.

Already a member? Sign in here.

The "Updated" date indicates when new information was most recently added to this article. In the full article, the newest information is highlighted in yellow.