from undergroundhealth.com: If you suffer from anxiety or develop occasional panic attacks
marked by bouts of hyperventilation, you could merely be experiencing
the side effects of an underlying nutrient deficiency that is easily
correctable, says Jonathan Benson of Natural News.
This definitely appears to have been the case with 21 people who
participated in a recent study based out of Japan, which identified a
lack of both vitamin B6 and iron among participants who experienced
panic or hyperventilation attacks.
The relatively small study evaluated nutrient levels among a group of
participants with varying degrees of anxiety and frequencies of panic
and hyperventilation attacks, some of which resulted in emergency room
visits. A control group was also evaluated, and its participants’
nutrient levels compared to those of the primary group.
Upon evaluation, researchers noted that both vitamin B6 and iron were
lacking in the subjects with anxiety and hyperventilation issues, while
those in the healthy group had adequate levels of these important
nutrients. B vitamins and iron are particularly important for the
synthesis of tryptophan into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that
regulates not only mood and mental stability, but also sleep and
cardiovascular function.
You can read the full study, which was published in the Japanese journal Acta Medica Okayama, here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23603926
Supplementing with whole food-based vitamins may promote better mental health
Though this particular study did not identify a link between general
deficiencies of other B vitamins like B2 and B12 and high frequency or
intensity of panic attacks, all B vitamins are important for healthy
brain and bodily function. A deficiency in any B vitamins, in other
words, can lead to mental health problems, which is why it is important
to keep your levels in check.
“Chronic stress, poor diet, and certain medical conditions can deplete
the body’s stores of vital nutrients,” explains one source about the
important of B vitamins. “Many of those who suffer from agoraphobia
(fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places) are deficient in
certain B complex vitamins, and this may be the case for other
anxiety-related conditions as well. Symptoms of vitamin B deficiency may
include anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, and emotional
instability.”
If you are looking to supplement with B vitamins, be sure to purchase
only whole food-based varieties like those produced by companies like
MegaFood and Garden of Life. Whole food-based supplements of any kind
are not only better absorbed by the body than their synthetic
counterparts, but they are also healthier than standard, run of the mill
vitamins and better capable of providing optimal therapeutic benefit.
“Vitamins are made up of several different components – enzymes,
co-enzymes, and co-factors – that must work together to produce their
intended biologic effects,” explains Dr. Ben Kim. “The majority of
vitamins that are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and vitamin shops
are synthetic vitamins, which are only isolated portions of the vitamins
that occur naturally in food.”
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