Anxiety and panic attacks
From The Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides (1997). This free database is provided for interest only. Linda's later writings refer to more up-to-date research.
Some causative factors- Caffeine sensitivity
- Selenium deficiency
- Magnesium deficiency
- B vitamin deficiency
- Sugar sensitivity (causing hypoglycaemia).
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.