Exploring the Intersection of Anxiety and Personalized Vitamins

One of the most common ailments that can be addressed through a personalized vitamin is anxiety. Anxiety is widespread in modern society with the experience of social isolation and economic disruption, but the right mix of vitamins can help shore up nutritional deficiencies that can contribute to feelings of anxiety. 

Anxiety, not surprisingly, can be treated with some of the same supplements discussed for aiding with sleep. Both processes involve a reduction of agitation and a relaxation component. Some supplements have been touted for working on various neurotransmitters to stimulate relaxation. These include valerian root, kava, chamomile, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). All are said to bind to the receptors centered in the relaxation areas of the brain. As with many herbal supplements, the data is somewhat lacking. While some people do find success with these products, it is our experience that most do not see noticeable improvements from using them. In addition, they can present issues with purity and contamination by other unintended ingredients. Vous Vitamin® has not felt comfortable manufacturing or endorsing these particular products because we do not see enough evidence in their favor. If you do feel strongly about trying some of these products, we recommend using only well-made ones from reputable sources.

The other types of vitamins often touted for anxiety are those with anti-inflammatory properties. These include the omega-3s (typically as fish oil) and vitamin C. Both have some decent evidence to suggest that they can be helpful for anxiety. Exactly why inflammation is part of the problem remains unclear. However, given that both omega-3s and vitamin C are generally safe in moderate doses (we believe no more than 2,000 mg of the first and 500 mg of the latter), they are worth considering. We make reference to many of their other health benefits in our research (e.g., Cholesterol, and Immunity and Body Aches). Some other vitamins that might diminish anxiety are vitamin B12 and folic acid. Both of these B vitamins seem to have important roles in nerve function. They may make our nerves function more optimally since their deficiencies lead to a variety of disturbances in the nervous system. It makes sense that replacing them in someone experiencing symptoms of anxiety may be helpful.

The other vitamin that is likely to play an important role in easing anxiety symptoms is magnesium. This essential nutrient plays a key role in optimal cellular function, as it regulates various channels that then allow cells to perform as they should. This seems to aid in reducing anxiety and its physical symptoms. We also discuss magnesium in our commentary on sleep, as, not surprisingly, it helps with sleep as well. It is our finding that daily magnesium supplementation is more useful than occasional as-needed use. At Vous Vitamin®, magnesium is a common component of many of our Personalized Multivitamins™.

It no longer makes sense to wander the vitamin aisles confused about which vitamins are right for your needs. An online, personalized vitamin assessment can pick up on characteristics like anxiety and determine which nutrients could be supportive for those aspects of your personal profile. It is time to leave the mass market and enter the next generation of personalized vitamin navigation tools.