For ensuring a healthy growth, children should get enough vitamins and minerals. Like other vitamins, vitamin B plays a major role in maintaining a child's overall health, especially his/her mental health.
According to a new study vitamin B deficiency can make children at a higher risk of experiencing mental health and behavioral problems.
Vitamin B has a crucial role in producing neurotransmitters like serotonin that alters human behavior and generates feelings of happiness.
Researcher Carly Herbison and colleagues initiated to analyze the role of vitamins B1, B2, B5, B5 and folate in the healthy growth of adolescents.
"Previous studies have shown that externalising mental health and behaviour problems developed during adolescence are related to a higher risk of offending and substance abuse later in life," Herbison, said in a statement. "What this study looked at was the relationship between diet, specifically B-vitamin intake and the presence of these externalising behaviours."
For the study, the researchers drew participants from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort and collected nutritional and mental health data from them.
"There is a great message in this in how diet may help prevent mental health problems. Improving what our children eat and ensuring they are getting essential B-vitamins from foods such as nuts, seeds, whole-grains, legumes and fruit and vegetables can have a really positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing," senior author Professor Wendy Oddy, who heads the Institute's nutritional research, explained.
According to experts, following a healthy life style can ensure a good mental health.
"This research reinforces that to have good mental health, you need to have a balanced diet and 30 minutes regular exercise on most days. It's important to see good mental health as part of your overall mental and physical wellbeing, especially during the growth years," beyondblue: the national depression and anxiety initiative CEO Kate Carnell AO said.
Findings of the study have been published in the international journal Preventive Medicine.
