In a group of patients suffering from panic attacks, investigation of their
caffeine consumption revealed that a higher consumption was associated with
higher anxiety levels. Boulenger JP et al: Increased sensitivity to
caffeine in patients with panic disorders. Preliminary evidence. Arch Gen
Psychiatry 41(11):1067-71, 1984.
The effects of caffeine administration compared with placebo were assessed
in 12 patients with general anxiety disorder. It was found that these patients
are abnormally sensitive to caffeine. Bruce M et al: Anxiogenic effects of
caffeine in patients with anxiety disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 49(11):867-9,
1992.
Selenium levels in the food chain are very low in some parts of the world,
including the UK. To ascertain whether selenium deficiency caused mood
problems, 50 test subjects were given either supplements or placebo.
Supplementation was associated with a general elevation of mood and decrease
in anxiety. The lower the previous level of selenium intake, the more reports
of anxiety, depression and fatigue decreased following 5 weeks of selenium
therapy. Benton D et al: The impact of selenium supplementation on mood. Biol
Psychiatry 29(11):1092-8, 1991.
20 patients with neurosis symptoms consistent with the early signs and
symptoms of beri-beri were found to have abnormal red cell transketolase
activity (a marker of vitamin B1 deficiency). In some (not all), this was
probably due to the heavy consumption of sweets and sugary foods and drinks.
All patients were clinically improved by the administration of vitamin B1, but
improvement was slow. Lonsdale D et al: Red cell transketolase as an indicator
of nutritional deficiency. Am J Clin Nutr 33(2):205-11, 1980.
The brain has receptor sites for benzodiazepine tranquillizers, suggesting
that the body may naturally contain similar substances. In animal trials vitamin
B3 (in its nicotinamide form) has been shown to have anti-anxiety,
anti-aggressive, anti-convulsive, and muscle relaxant properties, and to
increase the body's production of the sleep-promoting substance serotonin. This
suggests that it has benzodiazepine-like properties, which may shed new light on
the mental problems which are associated with vitamin B3 deficiency states.
Möhler H et al: Nicotinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like
actions. Nature 278(5704):563-565, 1979.
21 patients with panic disorder (some of whom also had agoraphobia) were
given 12 g per day of inositol for 4 weeks in a randomized, double-blind
placebo-controlled trial. Compared with placebo, inositol significantly
decreased the frequency and severity of panic attacks and the severity of
agoraphobia. There was no significant side effects. Benjamin J et al:
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for
panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry 152(7):1084-6, 1995.
