Researchers at Reading University have discovered that the vitamins in Marmite can affect your brain chemistry and could ultimately reduce levels of anxiety and depression. The researchers noted that the spread was high in B vitamins, which can modify chemical messengers in the brain. The study of 300 adults with an average age of 23 tried to find out if high doses of B6 could reduce the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Study participants were divided into groups and given either daily supplements of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or placebo tablets for one month. It found that those who took B6 saw “significant” reductions in depression and anxiety, but those who took B12 saw “no effect” compared to those who took a placebo. “Vitamin B6 helps the body produce a specific chemical messenger that inhibits impulses in the brain, and our study linked this calming effect to reduced anxiety among participants,” explained Dr. David Field, lead author of the study. The authors noted that Marmite is higher in vitamin B12 than B6 and that supplements would need to be taken along with Marmite to achieve the results from the study. They also said that study participants received more than 50 times the recommended amount of vitamin B6, which was equivalent to about 70 mg. Field added: “Many foods, such as tuna, chickpeas and many fruits and vegetables, contain vitamin B6. However, the high doses used in this trial suggest that the supplements would be necessary to have a positive effect on mood. “It is important to recognize that this research is at an early stage and the effect of vitamin B6 on anxiety in our study was quite small compared to what would be expected from medication. However, diet-based interventions cause far fewer unpleasant side effects than drugs, and so in the future people may prefer them as an intervention. “One possible option would be to combine vitamin B6 supplements with talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to enhance their effect.” The research comes after a 2017 study found that those who ate Marmite regularly experienced lower levels of stress and anxiety than those who didn’t.
