Vitamin B and Mood

Question: I take Vitamin B to help my mood. I have noticed it helps my mood, particularly when using birth control pills. Is there really a relation between Vitamin B and hormones/mood?

Answer: Well, it depends on what Vitamin B supplement you are taking. There are several "Vitamin B's": B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12. Each one has a different "job." Vitamin B7 (biotin) does help the body make hormones and a deficiency of certain B vitamins can cause tiredness and/or depression. However, like Vitamin C, Vitamin B (all the different types) is water soluble and you simply pee out whatever your body doesn't need. So, it certainly wouldn't hurt anything to take a Vitamin B Complex supplement, but in the same vein, it won't actually help unless you are deficient in the vitamin.