quote:Certain vitamins have proven effective to enhance mood in women. In 1990, a group of female and male volunteers in a double blind cross-over trial were treated with 100 mcg of selenium and showed a significant improvement on the Profile of Mood States (POMS) in 2.5 weeks (Benton and Cook 1990). In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, women, but not men, who took 50 milligrams of thiamine for 2 months became more clear-headed, composed and energetic (Benton, Griffiths, and Haller 1997). Vitamin D supplements have shown a rapid antidepressant effect during the winter months when sun exposure, and therefore body stores of vitamin D, are most likely to be low (Lansdowne and Provost 1998). Other vitamins with demonstrated potential for mood-enhancing effects in women are folic acid (Alpert and Fava 1997), pyridoxine and riboflavin (Benton, Fordy, and Haller 1995).