The B vitamin biotin reduces neurological brain damage that is caused by manganese and resembles Parkinson’s disease. Although manganese is an essential mineral, excessive intake can act as a neurotoxin. However, according to a study published in Science Signaling, biotin appears to have a therapeutic effect on Parkinson-like symptoms by promoting the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is important for the nervous system and mood.

Several studies have revealed that B vitamins strengthen the nervous system and reduce symptoms of stress. However, very few studies have looked at how the individual B vitamins work. A new placebo-controlled study that is published in the science journal, Human Psychopharmacology, appears to show that high-dosed vitamin B6 boosts the body’s formation of a certain neurotransmitter that blocks the exchange of undesirable impulses between brain cells, and this has a calming effect. In addition, vitamin B6 seems to reduce symptoms of depression.

Fewer children have eczema around the age of 12 months if their mothers had higher levels of a particular B vitamin during pregnancy, according to a new study from the University of Southampton.

- and do not have a clue

Global heating and the whole climate debate have greatly increased the number of vegans and vegetarians. Their intensions may be good, but what they do not know is that their lifestyle can lead to serious health problems. A Spanish study of vegetarians and vegans has shown that 11% of the study participants had subclinical or clinical vitamin B12 deficiency. Earlier studies supporting this finding. Because the problem is insidious, it is often difficult to see the link between the deficiency and the symptoms caused by anemia or disturbances in the nervous system. The lack of vitamin B12 may also increase the risk of impaired fertility and development disturbances in the fetus. It is therefore a good idea for vegans and vegetarians to take a vitamin B12 supplement.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a potentially life-threatening disease that affects the spinal cord and the motor nerves of the brain. The disease is incurablebut according to an American study that is published in Neurology, it progresses at a slower rate in patients with a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids from different dietary sources.

Lack of vitamin B12 is known to cause fatigue, poor memory, cognitive impairment, and hippocampal atrophy. Supplementation with B12, on the other hand, can improve cognitive functions, according to a study that is published in Nutrients. The problem is that the signs of cognitive disturbance are insidious and therefore not automatically associated with a simple nutrient deficiency that is often a result of ageing, vegetarian diets, low stomach acid, or diabetes medication.

- but is heavily overrated in energy beverages and breakfast cereals

Vitamin B6 is essential for the energy turnover, nervous system, hormone balance, and a number of other important functions. Vitamin B6 has been added to many energy beverages and breakfast cereals as an “energy booster” or a way of telling consumers that the product is healthy. But don’t be fooled. The same products often contain loads of sugar and caffeine, which burdens the blood sugar balance and the nervous system. It is therefore far better to get vitamin B6 by eating a balanced and healthy diet, possibly topped off with a supplement if necessary. Those who are likely to benefit from a supplement are strict vegetarians and vegans, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and seniors.

Large population studies of adults and their diet habits often tend to overlook certain groups such as younger adults. A British study therefore took a closer look at eating habits of adults in their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties. It revealed a widespread lack of B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, iodine, zinc, and selenium. Being deficient in these essential nutrients can harm your fertility and increase your risk of different diseases, while speeding up concealed ageing processes such as loss of cognition and bone mass.

We have relatively large quantities of zinc in our central nervous system where it plays a vital role in various physiological and pathological processes. Zinc is also important for brain development, various gene activities, the formation of new neurons, and the immune defense. What is more, zinc is a vital antioxidant that protects the brain against calcification and cell damage caused by oxidative stress. Zinc deficiency is a global problem and may be involved in a number of different neurological diseases – including stroke, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression, according to a new review article that is published in Biomolecules.