VITAMINS AND VITALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF MENTAL HEALTH, VITAMINS, AND VITAMIN SOURCES

Abstract

Previous research indicates that mental health, a critical component of health and wellbeing, could be associated with vitamin levels. This paper uses data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to analyze the relationship between reported mental health outcomes and measured vitamin levels. Further, I explore the relationship between reported mental health outcomes and the interaction of measured vitamin C and vitamin C sources (vitamin supplements and citrus fruit intake). I find that vitamin C is positively correlated with quality of mental health; vitamin A is negatively correlated with quality of mental health; vitamins B6, B9, B12, D, and E may be correlated with quality of mental health; holding vitamin C constant, supplements likely have a negative correlation with quality of mental health; and, holding vitamin C constant, citrus fruit intake has a positive correlation with quality of mental health.