Clear Mind Essential B VITAMIN COMPLEX - 100 capsules- Yeast Free

Why not take just another B Vitamin off the shelf?

B vitamins are essential for optimal health and functioning of numerous biochemical reactions in the body. They are required in the diet on a daily basis to support energy production, brain, liver and nerve cell function, and muscle tone in the GI tract. This high-potency B complex vitamin supplement is uniquely formulated to provide amounts and sources of B vitamins that are efficiently utilized and well-tolerated by the body.

• Activated Folate: Metafolin®** L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF), a bioactive form of folate, is included to help ensure more immediate effects on metabolism compared to folic acid, the form of folate commonly used in fortified foods and supplements. L-5-MTHF is especially useful for supporting neurological system requirements as it is the only form of folate that crosses the blood-brain barrier.

• Activated Vitamin B12: The methylcobalamin form of vitamin B12 is exceptionally well-absorbed and readily used by the body. Methylcobalamin, is especially useful for supporting neurological function and homocysteine metabolism.

• Additional Support: Inositol, choline, and paraaminobenzoic acid (PABA) have been included along with the eight essential B vitamins. These naturally-occurring compounds are related to B vitamins and have been shown to have benefit in a variety of metabolic functions.

• Hypoallergenic: This product is free of the following common allergens: milk/casein, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat/gluten, yeast, and soybeans. Contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. All Clear Mind Products are vegetarian

One capsule daily is recommended for individuals who wish to obtain a full array of B vitamins in potent amounts. Suggested Use: 1 capsule daily with food. This product was made in a GMP and ISO 9001:2008 registered facility.

Is there any proof Clear Mind Essential B Vitamin Complex helps depression?

As an MD, I am always looking for scientific evidence that products work.  However, there is really two kinds of evidence: 1--double blind placebo controlled studies. These are often funded by drug companies that have a vested interest in "finding the proof."  These therapies are considered to be "evidence based."

2--empiric evidence.  This is not so scientific, yet "seems to work."  Many ideas for scientific inquiries come from what doctors have noticed is effective.  

But vitamins are not drugs, so there is not much proof, right?

For the most part, this is true.  However, we know certain facts about vitamins due to the diseases their deficiencies cause.  We know for a fact Vitamin B1 deficiency causes dementia.  This is one of the reasons severe alcoholics may become demented. We know folic acid is deficient in people who consume a lot of alcohol as well.  We also know the deficiency causes brain development birth defects called neural tube defects.  But a lot of the art of medicine is combining the science with our experience of what works.  Science+Empiric Data+Logic= Art of Medicine.

Is there a scholarly investigation that shows B vitamins help in depression anywhere out there?

There is a reason all supplements not regulated by the FDA boast the universal disclaimer: "not intended to treat any disease."  That said, In my research, I came upon an article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2009, pages 12-17, which reviews all of the literature to date on depression and folate deficiency.  In this article, 28 other investigations were cited. The article set out to show that folate supplementation can indeed help with depressive symptoms. Of course folate should not be supplemented without Methyl B12, as folate treatment can mask some symptoms of B12 deficiency.Therefore, they should be given together. 

Is there additional indirect evidence methylfolate can help with depression?

We know antidepressants do not work well in those with folate deficiency. Through the condition called "methylfolate deficiency," we in the supplement world have learned a lot.  These patients often have high homocysteine and also have many disorders including depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and simply cannot be treated with the inactive forms of vitamins found over the counter.   Some of my patients with addictions have this inborn error of metabolism, and must be treated with methylated B vitamins, so why not the rest of us? These vitamins are active, natural, food source vitamins with guaranteed potency and purity. And after all, Metafolin (L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate) is the ONLY form of folate to cross into the brain from the blood.