Low serotonin can cause anxiety and panic attacks. Because vitamin B6 and iron are required raw materials for making serotonin, we know that low levels of these two nutrients often contribute to anxiety and panic attacks.
We have some pretty recent research supporting all this: Low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are related to panic attack and hyperventilation attack
Reduced serotonin level is known as one of the causes of panic attacks and hyperventilation attacks ….
In the serotonin synthesis system of the brain, vitamin B6 is a coenzyme for tryptophan hydroxylase, which is involved in the conversion of tryptophan into 5-hydroxytryptophan and iron serves as a cofactor for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase involved in the formation of serotonin from 5-hydroxytryptophan. Therefore, a reduction in vitamin B6 and iron levels can suppress the progression of the serotonin synthesis.
The study authors measured serum levels of vitamins B2, B6, and B12 and iron in 21 premenopausal women who had been admitted to the emergency room with panic attacks.
The results were compared with lab values from 20 volunteers, also premenopausal women, and this is what they reported:
We found that both vitamin B6 and iron levels were significantly lower in the panic attack/hyperventilation attack group than in the volunteer group. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of vitamins B2 or B12.
These results suggest that low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are involved in panic attacks and hyperventilation attacks.
This certainly confirms what I see with my clients. When I’m working with someone with anxiety, we always assess for low serotonin, low iron and low vitamin B6 levels, and when we address low levels we almost always see improvements – both in the reduction of anxiety and panic attacks. We’ll often see a mood boost too, sleep improvements and a reduction in carb cravings.
Here are some additional factors to consider:
- Vitamin B6 can be challenging to measure in serum so I like to also use the pyroluria questionnaire and poor dream recall as a clue. The authors mention that serum pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) is often used as an indication of B6 status, however they opted to use pyridoxal (PAL) after conversion from PLP.
- Supplementing with vitamin B6 can often lead to some improvements in a few weeks with many folks who have pyroluria reporting feeling less anxious and more social within a week.
- There is the potential for vitamin B6 toxicity. I have yet to see any signs of toxicity in my clients, but I have also not ever recommended more than 500mg/day. However, there are some individuals who have issues with very small amounts of vitamin B6. Unfortunately, I do not know why this happens.
- Testing ferritin levels are an excellent way to assess iron levels and iron should never be supplemented unless iron is low. Dr. Izabella Wentz, shares in her book Hashimoto’s Protocol and blog that the optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/m. Addressing low iron levels can take awhile to see a shift in labs.
- Because zinc and magnesium are also cofactors for making serotonin, low levels may also need to be addressed. I would have loved to see these included in this study,
- As always, we assess for low serotonin levels using the amino acid questionnaire and start on tryptophan or 5-HTP right away, based on doing trials – so we can see anxiety reduction and relief from panic attacks right away, while the other changes are starting to provide the raw materials for serotonin production.
Keep in mind that low serotonin and low iron and/or low vitamin B6 – although very common with anxiety and panic attacks – are not the only root cause and many other factors may also need to be addressed.
We’d love to hear if addressing low iron and/or low vitamin B6 levels have helped you? Did you use tryptophan and/or 5-HTP at the same time?
If you’re a practitioner, are often do you see low iron and/or low vitamin B6 in your anxious clients/patients?
