Vitamins, Herbs, and

Supplements to Assist
in Management of
Anxiety
Susan Harrill
Agenda
• Basics
• Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements–
Whats the difference?
• Precautions
• Vitamins, Herbs, and Supplements for Anxiety
• Additional Resources
• Wrap-up/ References
 “Supplements are any product that adds nutritional
value to your diet or augments health. Vitamins are a
Whats the difference? type of supplement. Other types of supplements
include minerals, herbs, or nutrients like
fiber”(Taylor, 2021).
Vitamins
“The known vitamins include A, C, D, E, and K,
and the B vitamins: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2),
niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxal (B6),
cobalamin (B12), biotin, and folate/folic acid”

• While dietary guidelines recommend

consuming these vitamins through food,
sometimes people do not get all of the vitamins
their bodies need to function optimally.
• Vitamins, Herbs, and supplements can
complement diet and nutrition to ensure a
variety of nutrients
Supplements

•“You take by mouth (such as a

tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid) 
•Are made to supplement the diet 
•Have one or more dietary
ingredients, including vitamins,
minerals, herbs or other
botanicals, amino acids, enzymes,
tissues from organs or glands, or
extracts of these 
•Are labeled as being dietary
supplements” (Cite)
Herbs/ Botanicals
• “An herb is a plant or plant part used for its
scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties.
• Herbal medicines are one type of dietary
supplement. They are sold as tablets, capsules,
powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried
plants.
• People use herbal medicines to try to maintain
or improve their health”.
Risks and
Precautions
• Not Clinically tested for Efectivness
• Possible Medication/ Drug Interactions
• Potential risks to Pregnant Women, Nursing
Women, and Children
• Potential Product Misinformation/ Lack of
Ingredients Label
• Not FDA regulated
Supplements for Anxiety • vitamin D
• vitamin B complex
• magnesium
• l-theanine
• multivitamins
• omega-3 fatty acids
• valerian root
• chamomile
• lavender
• lemon balm
Vitamin D

• People can increase vitamin D by spending

more time in the sun and eating foods rich in
Vitamin D such as fatty fish
• Vegans and Vegetarians may
struggle to get enough Vitamin D
from diet alone

• A 2015 review study reports that people with

symptoms of anxiety or depression had lower
levels of calcidiol, a byproduct of vitamin D
breakdown, in their bodies.
• A 2017 study found that taking vitamin D
supplements improved both depression and
anxiety in women with type 2 diabetes.
Lemon Balm
• A 2016 study found that lemon balm tea, or Melissa officinalis, improved anxiety symptoms and sleep quality in people
who had experienced burns.
• A 2019 double-blind study looked at people who recently had heart bypass surgery. Those who took capsules
containing 1.5 grams of dried lemon balm per day had lower anxiety levels than those who took a placebo.
References
• Taylor, J. (2021, March 4). The Real Difference Between Vitamins and
Supplements. Coveteur. https://coveteur.com/2019/11/05/real-difference-
between-vitamins-supplements-md-sara-gottfried/.
• Lawler, M., Macht, H., Migala, J., Palinski-Wade, E., Revelant, J., & Bedosky,
L. (2021, May 3). 10 Healthy Herbs and How to Use Them - Diet and
Nutrition Center - Everyday Health. EverydayHealth.com.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition-pictures/healthy-herbs-
and-how-to-use-them.aspx.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Dietary and Herbal
Supplements. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/dietary-and-herbal-supplements.