According to research published in the Nutrition Journal, taking Vitamin C as a supplement could help improve your mental health. The research looked at the emotional well-being of acute care patients in hospitals and how their mood was boosted by increasing Vitamin C levels over time. The study went on to report that mood response levels shot up by 34% on the patients in question after increased supplementation with this amazing vitamin.
Low levels of Vitamin C in acute patients
Speaking about the study's findings, lead researcher Dr John Hoffer noted that 1 in 5 patients in an acute care state in the hospital used had levels of Vitamin C so low that they could almost be classed as having scurvy. Despite this, Dr Hoffer claimed that patients are hardly ever given supplements of key vitamins to help. It is thought that this is simply down to most medical professionals being in the dark about the issue.
Why is Vitamin C so key for mental health?
It is widely accepted that low levels of key vitamins, like C and D, correspond to abnormalities with mental health. As such, this was the basis of the clinical research undertaken by Dr Hoffer and his team. Vitamin C hypovitaminosis can be tricky to pin down for acute care patients in hospital though. In these patients, inflammation response could see this vitamin utilised by immune cells for healing, but a lack of it in normal body tissues may not point to a nutritional shortfall.
In past studies, attempts to pin down the origin of Vitamin C hypovitaminosis in acute patients has been done via recording their reaction to its provision. As negative effects on mood were known to be a sign of deficiency in Vitamin C, past studies had taken into account the mood assessments of patients. This found that a higher intake of Vitamin C led to a 35% drop in low or disturbed moods. In previous studies, however, we're unable to tell if this was a placebo effect, as these studies had not been designed to specifically measure it at the time.
New trial designed with mood disturbance in mind
Taking the above into account, this new study used a double-blind approach to test out Vitamin C supplementation in patients. As previously noted, Dr Hoffer's new trial found a 34% rise in positive mood scores for the patients involved. As no mood improvement was found in the group who supplemented with Vitamin D instead, the study suggested that the improvements Vitamin C brought could not be a placebo effect.
But just how does this vitamin work in our bodies to affect how we feel? The researchers involved think that low levels of Vitamin C in the cerebrospinal fluid can negatively impact our mood. This, therefore, makes it logical that boosting levels of Vitamin C can have the opposite effect. While the researchers did note that their results needed testing in new studies on a larger scale, what they have found is hugely promising. With Vitamin C treatment being low cost, simple and safe, this type of treatment could have very positive clinical applications.
Vitamin C is one of nature's true wonders
Anyone who is interested in natural living or alternative health therapies knows how valuable Vitamin C is. It is, for example, well-known to be great for your immune system and helping your body to fight off viruses and illness. By indicating it could help put a smile on your face too though, this new trial has shown extra benefits to adequate Vitamin C intake. While the trial looked at acute care patients in hospital, it is not too big a stretch to see how increased Vitamin C intake could actually help us all feel happier and more positive.
