Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 11, Issue 2 159-163, Copyright © 1992 by American College of Nutrition

CLINICAL TRIAL

Brief communication. Vitamin B1, B2, and B6 augmentation of tricyclic antidepressant treatment in geriatric depression with cognitive dysfunction

I. R. Bell, J. S. Edman, F. D. Morrow, D. W. Marby, G. Perrone, H. L. Kayne, M. Greenwald and J. O. Cole
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.

This was a 4-week randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study to assess augmentation of open tricyclic antidepressant treatment with 10 mg each of vitamins B1, B2, and B6 in 14 geriatric inpatients with depression. The active vitamin group demonstrated significantly better B2 and B6 status on enzyme activity coefficients and trends toward greater improvement in scores on ratings of depression and congnitive function, as well as in serum nortriptyline levels compared with placebo-treated subjects (Ss). Without specific supplementation, B12 levels increased in Ss receiving B1/B2/B6 and decreased in placebo Ss. These findings offer preliminary support for further investigation of B complex vitamin augmentation in the treatment of geriatric depression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A.-l. Williams, A. Cotter, A. Sabina, C. Girard, J. Goodman, and D. L Katz The role for vitamin B-6 as treatment for depression: a systematic review Fam. Pract., October 1, 2005; 22(5): 532 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L Tucker, B. Olson, P. Bakun, G. E Dallal, J. Selhub, and I. H Rosenberg Breakfast cereal fortified with folic acid, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 increases vitamin concentrations and reduces homocysteine concentrations: a randomized trial Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2004; 79(5): 805 - 811. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Patenaude Nutrient Deficiency-Related Depression and Mental Changes in Elderly Persons Home Health Care Management Practice, December 1, 1996; 9(1): 29 - 39. [Abstract]