Everyone avoids social engagements from time to time. However, if you consistently avoid social contacts due to feelings of anxiety, you may have social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. While certain treatments can improve your symptoms, two nutrients, niacinamide and tyrosine, may also provide benefits. Consult your doctor before using any dietary supplements.
About Social Anxiety
Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is a type of disorder characterized by an intense, overwhelming fear of specific social situations. The exact situations vary from person to person, but generally include places where you feel like you might be judged or criticized, such as public speaking engagements, or where you have to meet many new people, such as a party or work function. Social anxiety disorder, as with other types of anxiety disorders, results in psychological symptoms such as excessive anxiety, nervousness and worry; physical symptoms like blushing, shaking, sweating or having trouble breathing; and behavioral symptoms, including avoiding specific places or people. While researchers aren't sure of the cause, certain factors, such as personality traits, genetics and brain chemistry, are thought to play a role. Doctors may recommend anti-anxiety medication or psychotherapy to treat your symptoms. Natural treatments like niacinamide and tyrosine may also help.
Benefits of Niacinamide
Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a form of niacin, or vitamin B-3. Among its other uses, niacin helps with energy metabolism, maintains proper functioning of the nervous system and assists with making stress and sex hormones. In a clinical report published in 2005 in the "Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine," naturopathic doctor Jonathan Prousky describes how niacinamide treatment helped to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and social phobia in two patients diagnosed with social anxiety. One patient also had a concurrent diagnosis of panic disorder, while the other was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Niacinamide treatment helped to reduce or completely eliminate symptoms of anxiety in both cases. However, there are no additional studies to attest to niacinamide's anxiety-relieving properties, and more clinical research trials are needed.
Significance of Tyrosine
Tyrosine is an amino acid that your body manufactures from another amino acid, phenylalanine. Tyrosine plays a role in making several crucial neurotransmitters, including epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. These brain chemicals are important for regulating signal transmission between nerve cells, and also affect your mood. While there's no specific clinical evidence on the benefits of tyrosine for social anxiety, studies have shown that low levels of tyrosine can bring on symptoms of anxiety. A study published in the January 2000 issue of the journal, "Neuropsychopharmacology," showed that healthy women who experienced tyrosine and phenylalanine depletion in a laboratory setting suffered higher levels of irritability, anxiety and lowered mood when asked to complete a simulated stress test. However, studies are needed to evaluate the benefits of tyrosine supplementation on symptoms of anxiety and social phobia.
Considerations
While tyrosine and niacinamide supplementation may provide some benefits for social anxiety disorder, there's not enough evidence to unequivocally support their use. If you suffer from social anxiety disorder, consult your doctor. As with any dietary supplement, inform your doctor if you choose to use tyrosine or niacinamide.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- "Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine"; Supplemental Niacinamide Mitigates Anxiety Symptoms: Three Case Reports; Jonathan Prousky, ND; 2005
- "Neuropsychopharmacology"; Effects on Mood of Acute Phenylalanine/Tyrosine Depletion in Healthy Women; M. Leyton et al.; January 2000
