Associations between serum homocysteine levels and anxiety and depression among children and adolescents in Taiwan

Abstract

Although evidence suggests that homocysteine levels are elevated in severe mental illness in children, findings regarding homocysteine levels in youth with anxiety and depression are scarce. Therefore, this study examined the association of homocysteine levels with anxiety and depression in a community sample of students aged 6–13 years. In total, 649 students were selected from the first, fourth, and seventh grades of schools in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2010. These students completed a hospital-based health examination, which included physical examination, blood sample collection, and questionnaire administration. The data were analysed through multiple linear regression. Among the seventh-grade boys, both depression (adjusted β = 0.044, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.004–0.084) and anxiety (adjusted β = 0.052, 95% CI = 0.013–0.091) were independently associated with increased homocysteine levels. In further dichotomisation, compared with students with low anxiety levels, those with moderate to high anxiety levels were significantly positively associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels (adjusted β = 0.091, 95% CI = 0.003–0.180). Our results suggest that increased depression and anxiety may be positively associated with higher serum homocysteine levels in older boys. Our results provide essential data on the biological aspects underlying anxiety and depression in the studied population.

Intakes of Specific Categories of Vegetables and Fruits Are Inversely Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Adults

“… 45 Besides, deficiency of magnesium can lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and anxiety. 50 Depression is associated with oxidative stress, 13 inflammation, 12 the high level of homocysteine, 51 scarcity of neurotransmitter serotonin 52 or catecholamine, 53 neurodevelopment disruptions, 54 and abnormal HPA axis. 55 Therefore, sufficient carotenoids, 56 flavonoids, 25 vitamin C, 49 vitamin B2, 57 folate, 58 and magnesium 33 may have anti-depression effects.…”

The effect of intracerebroventricular administration of orexin receptor type 2 antagonist on pentylenetetrazol-induced kindled seizures and anxiety in rats

“…For example, hyperhomocysteinemia is reported to be affected by different dietary patterns [ 71 ]. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been related to anxiety-like behaviors in rats [ 72 ] and human [ 73 ]. On the other hand, low levels of homocysteine may induce epilepsy [ 74 ].…”

The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Thromboxane, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Homocysteine, and Vitamin D in Depressive Children and Adolescents: Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The increased HCy levels have been observed in depressed adolescents, compared to the controls [31]. Chung et al [32] found higher serum HCy levels in boys (12-13 years old) with moderate-to-high anxiety levels. However, no association was observed between serum HCy levels and depression in both boys and girls.…”