Effects of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and a B Complex Preparation on Dreaming and Sleep.
Denholm J Adventure-Heart, Natasha A Madden, Paul Delfabbro
Perceptual and Motor Skills June 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1177/0031512518770326 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 100 |
| Population | Participants from across Australia |
| Interventions | Vitamin B6 B complex preparation |
| Dose | 240 mg |
| Duration | Five consecutive days |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Methodology Sleep Vitamin b6 Vitamin supplementation |
| Key points | Vitamin B6 significantly increased the amount of dream content recalled but did not significantly affect dream vividness, bizarreness, or color, nor other sleep-related variables. |
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence indicates that supplementation with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) before bed can enhance dream vividness and recall. In a single pilot study, Ebben, Lequerica, and Spielman (2002) found that vitamin B6 had a dose-dependent effect of increasing scores on a composite measure of dream vividness, bizarreness, emotionality, and color. The present research replicated this study using a larger and more diverse sample of 100 participants from across Australia. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects on dreaming and sleep of ingesting 240 mg vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) before bed for five consecutive days. We also included an exploratory condition involving a B complex preparation containing a range of B vitamins. We found that vitamin B6 significantly increased the amount of dream content participants recalled but did not significantly affect dream vividness, bizarreness, or color, nor did it significantly affect other sleep-related variables. In contrast, participants in the B complex group showed significantly lower self-rated sleep quality and significantly higher tiredness on waking. We discuss the potential for using vitamin B6 in research on lucid dreaming.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficacy of a Cognitive‐Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia and Nightmares in Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans With PTSD Combat veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (mean age... | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Lucid Dreaming Treatment for Nightmares: A Pilot Study Chronic nightmare sufferers | 2006 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 23 |
| Testing the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in lucid dreaming: A tDCS study Participants spending three consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 19 |
| Pre-sleep treatment with galantamine stimulates lucid dreaming: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study Adults with high dream recall and an interest in lucid dreaming | 2018 | Randomized crossover trial | n = 121 |
| Studies with lucid dreaming as add-on therapy to Gestalt therapy Adults with nightmares (ICD-10: F51.5) at least twice a week | 2015 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 32 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 7
- The Neurobiology of Consciousness: Lucid Dreaming Wakes Up heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 2009
- Effectiveness of motor practice in lucid dreams: a comparison with physical and mental practice Journal of Sports Sciences April 7, 2015
- Studies with lucid dreaming as add-on therapy to Gestalt therapy Acta Neurologica Scandinavica January 30, 2015
- An exploratory study of creative problem solving in lucid dreams: Preliminary findings and methodological considerations heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 2010
- Applications of lucid dreams: An online study heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 2012
and 2 more in the library