What the reviews found
Supplements for Depression
5 where systematic reviews concluded a benefit, 2 with mixed findings, 3 where they concluded no effect. Every line quotes the review and links it, so you can read the sentence yourself.
Reviews found a benefit
Systematic reviews concluded these improve an outcome tied to depression, and none concluded no effect.
- Top-scored productThorne Rhodiola2 reviews cited92Benefitdepressive symptoms
“alleviation of depressive symptoms” PMID 41906501 · 2 reviews
Benefitdepressive symptoms(as Rhodiola rosea)“This review demonstrates that certain supplements, such as eicosapentaenoic acids and Rhodiola rosea, are therapeutic options for mild depression.” PMID 40014460 · 2 reviews
- Benefitdepressive symptoms
“alleviation of depressive symptoms” PMID 41906501 · 2 reviews
- Benefitdepressive symptoms
“ALC supplementation significantly decreases depressive symptoms compared with placebo/no intervention” PMID 29076953
- 1 review citedBenefitdepressive symptoms
“Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus plantarum subspecies JYLP-326 and Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 were particularly effective, while multi-strain probiotics generally showed more consistent effects than single-strain interventions.” PMID 40669008
- Benefitpsychological well-being (depression/anxiety)
“improvements in psychological well-being, in management of depression and anxiety” PMID 38015892
Mixed: a benefit on one measure, no effect on another
- Benefitdepressive symptoms(as Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
“Current evidence supports the finding that omega-3 PUFAs with EPA ≥ 60% at a dosage of ≤1 g/d would have beneficial effects on depression.” PMID 31383846
No effectdepressive symptoms(as Docosahexaenoic Acid)“DHA-pure and DHA-major formulations did not exhibit such benefits” PMID 31383846
Benefitdepressive symptoms(as Omega-3 Fatty Acids)“Post-hoc analyzes of drug subclasses found a significant effect of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing depressive symptoms.” PMID 37864981
- Top-scored productThorne Vitamin B122 reviews cited96No effectdepressive symptoms
“We also found no overall effect of vitamin supplementation on measures of depression.” PMID 33809274
Benefitdepressive symptoms(as Methylcobalamin)“Supplementation with folic acid or L-methylfolate, B1, B12 or methylcobalamin, and vitamin D (in different doses and study duration) significantly decreased depression score scales by increasing response to standard pharmacological treatment or as monotherapy, including partial or complete remission.” PMID 35156551
Reviews found no effect
Reviews studied these for an outcome tied to depression and concluded they made no difference.
- B Complex1 review citedNo effectdepressive symptoms
“We also found no overall effect of vitamin supplementation on measures of depression.” PMID 33809274
- No effectmood and depression
“Most of the studies did not show significant effects in a wide range of mood and depression outcome measures or health-related QOL (data cannot be meta-analyzed).” PMID 42123986
- No effectdepressive symptoms
“We also found no overall effect of vitamin supplementation on measures of depression.” PMID 33809274
Not enough to say
Reviews of Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Copper, CoQ10, L-Methionine, Magnesium, Reishi, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Zinc could not conclude either way on depression.
How this page is built
Each finding is the conclusion a set of systematic reviews reached on one outcome — whether an ingredient helped, made no difference, or could not be judged — with a sentence quoted from one review, checked to appear in its PubMed abstract. It records the direction, not the size, of an effect. Reviews run in populations such as people with cancer, pregnancy, surgery or children are left out, because applying them to a general reader would mislead. Evidence last refreshed September 2026. Abstracts courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed).
Other goals
Educational only. A review finding a benefit on average does not mean a supplement will help you, or that it is safe alongside your medication. If you are treated for depression, talk to your clinician before adding anything.