Association between folate, vitamin B₆ and vitamin B₁₂ intake and depression in the SUN cohort study

Abstract

Background: An association between low blood levels of folate, vitamins B6 and B12 and a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms has been reported in several epidemiological studies. The present study aimed to assess the association between folate, vitamins B6 and B12 intake and depresion prevalence in the SUN cohort study. Methods: The study comprised a cross‐sectional analysis of 9670 participants. A validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to ascertain vitamin intake. The association between the baseline intake of folate, vitamins B6 and B12 categorised in quintiles and the prevalence of depression was assessed. The analyses were repeated after stratifying by smoking habits, alcohol intake, physical activity and personality traits. Results: Among women, odds ratios (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for the third to fifth quintile for vitamin B12 intake were 0.58 (0.41–0.84), 0.56 (0.38–0.82) and 0.68 (0.45–1.04), respectively. Among those men with a low level of anxiety and current smokers, a significant positive association between low folate intake and the prevalence of depression was found. The OR (95% CI) for the first quintile of intake was 2.85 (1.49–5.45) and 2.18 (1.08–4.38), respectively, compared to the upper quintiles of intake (Q2–Q5) considered as a group. Conclusion: Low folate intake was associated with depression among currently smoking men and men with low anxiety levels. Low intake of vitamin B12 was associated with depression among women. No significant associations were found for vitamin B6 intake.

Nutritional predictors of depression in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly Canadians: NuAge cohort

“…Dimopoulos, et al, 2007;Kim, et al, 2008;Nanri et al, 2012;Ng, Feng, et al, 2009;. Because folic acid fortification effectively increases serum folate concentrations at the population level (Jacques, Selhub, Bostom, Wilson, & Rosenberg, 1999;Lawrence, Petitti, Watkins, & Umekubo, 1999), we agree with other researchers that have proposed the likelihood of a "threshold effect": no further benefits would be seen after a certain status or intake is reached in a given population (Astorg, et al, 2008;Lee, et al, 1998;Murakami, et al, 2008;Penninx, et al, 2000;Sanchez-Villegas, Doreste, et al, 2009;Tolmunen, et al, 2003).…”

“…Researchers hypothesize that stronger associations are seen when there is lower adequacy or status (Astorg, et al, 2008;Lee, et al, 1998;Murakami et al, 2008;Penninx et al, 2000;Sanchez-Villegas, Doreste, et al, 2009;Tolmunen et al, 2003). A threshold, as proposed by , is plausible, "Once a minimal level is attained, further increases in intake do not lead to further reduction in depression risk."…”

Dietary B Vitamins and Depression in Persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Positive Living with HIV (POLH) Study

“…The findings are both consistent with (16,24,(69)(70)(71) and contrary to some previous studies (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(72)(73)(74)(75) that assessed the relationship between thiamin, niacin, pyridoxine, cobalamin, or folate and depression in the general population living in developed countries. These discrepancies may be partly ascribed to differences in the target population, dietary intake, dietary assessment methods, depressive symptoms measurement methods, and confounding variables treatment.…”

“…In accordance with these biologic mechanisms, several observational (12)(13)(14)(15)(16) and clinical trials (17)(18)(19) have reported a potential benefit of high B vitamin status on decreasing the risk of depression. In the general population, cross-sectional and prospective studies have found that low intake of riboflavin (16), pyridoxine (13), cobalamin (15,(20)(21)(22), and folate (12,23,24) were associated with increased risk of depression.…”

“…In the general population, cross-sectional and prospective studies have found that low intake of riboflavin (16), pyridoxine (13), cobalamin (15,(20)(21)(22), and folate (12,23,24) were associated with increased risk of depression. Furthermore, in patients with depression, studies have reported low serum or plasma concentrations of pyridoxine (25,26) and folate (14,(27)(28)(29) in depressive patients.…”