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American Morning
Study: B-12 May Fight Depression
Aired December 02, 2003 - 09:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: A new study says a healthy dose of vitamin B-12 could prove effective in fighting depression. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center with details. Morning, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson. You know we're talking about vitamins here, not necessarily to treat depression but to actually make your existing anti-depressant treatment work even better. And specifically in this case Vitamin B- 12.
There's a little bit of history behind this. This isn't the first time this sort of thing has been tested. Vitamin B-12 being tested now 115 patients. This study coming out of Finland looking at the levels of B-12 in someone's blood before and then after someone has been treated with anti-depressant therapy, either through medication or through talk therapy.
And what they found was that people who had higher levels of B-12 at the start of the treatment and then as well at end of the treatment, which was six months later, had a better response to whatever sort of anti-depressant therapy they were receiving.
Now again, Anderson, I mention there's a little bit of history behind this. This sort of thing has been studied before in other vitamins as well. The results have been a little bit mixed. This has been one of the strongest studies, again showing these vitamins not treat depression on their own but may modify it so your existing anti- depressants work better -- Anderson.
COOPER: So people shouldn't run out and just buy this thing only. They should still consult with a doctor, still use more traditional methods, I guess talk therapy and whatever medication.
Are there other supplements as well that might help those as well already being treated?
GUPTA: Yes, and you know, a couple things about that. First of all, vitamin B-12, taking too much of it is -- there's nothing wrong with that. It's not one of these medications or supplements that's going to harm you in any way. So everyone should have adequate B-12 levels as a baseline.
And there are other supplements that have been studied as well. Vitamin B-12 is one of them. Folate is another vitamin studied. Didn't show as significant an involvement in terms of modifying existing anti-depressant therapy. Of course, Anderson, the ones that people typically think of are St. John's Wort and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Those are two of the more popular ones.
Big study done on St, John's Wort last year by the NIH, National Institute of Health. Showing it didn't have a significant effect in terms of reducing major depressive episodes. That was sort of a blow for St. John's Wort. That came about a year ago.
But, again, regarding these vitamins, they can't hurt you, they may help with regard to not only your health but also possibly with regards to making your making your anti-depressants work a little bit better -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Sanjay Gupta. Thanks very much,
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 2, 2003 - 09:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: A new study says a healthy dose of vitamin B-12 could prove effective in fighting depression. Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center with details. Morning, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson. You know we're talking about vitamins here, not necessarily to treat depression but to actually make your existing anti-depressant treatment work even better. And specifically in this case Vitamin B- 12.
There's a little bit of history behind this. This isn't the first time this sort of thing has been tested. Vitamin B-12 being tested now 115 patients. This study coming out of Finland looking at the levels of B-12 in someone's blood before and then after someone has been treated with anti-depressant therapy, either through medication or through talk therapy.
And what they found was that people who had higher levels of B-12 at the start of the treatment and then as well at end of the treatment, which was six months later, had a better response to whatever sort of anti-depressant therapy they were receiving.
Now again, Anderson, I mention there's a little bit of history behind this. This sort of thing has been studied before in other vitamins as well. The results have been a little bit mixed. This has been one of the strongest studies, again showing these vitamins not treat depression on their own but may modify it so your existing anti- depressants work better -- Anderson.
COOPER: So people shouldn't run out and just buy this thing only. They should still consult with a doctor, still use more traditional methods, I guess talk therapy and whatever medication.
Are there other supplements as well that might help those as well already being treated?
GUPTA: Yes, and you know, a couple things about that. First of all, vitamin B-12, taking too much of it is -- there's nothing wrong with that. It's not one of these medications or supplements that's going to harm you in any way. So everyone should have adequate B-12 levels as a baseline.
And there are other supplements that have been studied as well. Vitamin B-12 is one of them. Folate is another vitamin studied. Didn't show as significant an involvement in terms of modifying existing anti-depressant therapy. Of course, Anderson, the ones that people typically think of are St. John's Wort and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Those are two of the more popular ones.
Big study done on St, John's Wort last year by the NIH, National Institute of Health. Showing it didn't have a significant effect in terms of reducing major depressive episodes. That was sort of a blow for St. John's Wort. That came about a year ago.
But, again, regarding these vitamins, they can't hurt you, they may help with regard to not only your health but also possibly with regards to making your making your anti-depressants work a little bit better -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Sanjay Gupta. Thanks very much,
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
