Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Thiamine (Vitamin B1) has some scientific evidence supporting its use in the context of depression, particularly when deficiency is present, but it is not a primary or widely validated treatment for depression itself. Several studies have observed an association between low thiamine levels and depressive symptoms, especially in elderly populations, individuals with alcoholism, or those with poor nutritional status. For example, a few small clinical trials and observational studies have found that thiamine supplementation may improve mood and cognitive function in people who are deficient. The proposed mechanism involves thiamine’s role in neurotransmitter synthesis and energy metabolism in the brain, which are important for normal mental function.

However, in individuals with normal thiamine status, there is limited direct evidence that supplementation significantly improves depression. The available studies tend to be small, have design limitations, or focus on populations at elevated risk for deficiency. Major clinical guidelines for depression do not include thiamine as a standard therapy unless deficiency is suspected or confirmed. Overall, while there is some scientific rationale and limited supporting evidence for thiamine’s use in depression—mainly in cases of deficiency—the evidence base is not strong enough to recommend it as a general treatment for depression.

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