What Vitamins Increase Brain Activity?

The brain is the command center for the central nervous system, controlling our senses, movement and neurotransmitting functions. "Brain activity" refers to the constant firing of neurons in the brain, used to send messages around the body. Eating certain foods will promote healthy brain function, and supplementing your diet with particular vitamins can increase brain activity further.

B Vitamins

• B vitamins are required to produce neurotransmitters. They also have many other functions, working in harmony to prevent nerve cells from being oxidized and enhancing memory among others. Vitamin B12 actively aids the repair of neurotransmitters and nerve fibers. A substantial vitamin B deficiency can cause mental health problems and can lead to Alzheimer's disease among older patients.

Vitamin E

• Vitamin E is important in regulating brain health and promotes efficient brain function. It is a powerful, fat-soluble antioxidant that protects the important fatty acids found in the brain from damage by free radicals. Vitamin E deficiencies have been linked to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Vitamin D

• When discussing vitamins that directly influence brain function, most health professionals would not traditionally think of vitamin D. However, scientists at Cambridge and Manchester University in England conducted a study looking at the relationship between vitamin D and the brain. Vitamin D was found to "activate and deactivate enzymes in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid that are involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and nerve growth," proving that regular sunlight can enhance brain activity.