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[sSRI-Research] High vitamin B12 level

 

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/3/17/abstract

 

High vitamin B12 level and good treatment outcome may be associated in major

depressive disorder

Jukka Hintikka , Tommi Tolmunen , Antti Tanskanen and Heimo Viinamaki

BMC Psychiatry 2003, 3:17 (published 2 December 2003)

 

Abstract (provisional)

 

Background

Despite of an increasing body of research the associations between vitamin

B12 and folate levels and the treatment outcome in depressive disorders are

still unsolved. We therefore conducted this naturalistic prospective

follow-up study. Our aim was to determine whether there were any

associations between the vitamin B12 and folate level and the six-month

treatment outcome in patients with major depressive disorder. Because

vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may result in changes in haematological

indices, including mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell count and

hematocrit, we also examined whether these indices were associated with the

treatment outcome.

 

Methods

Haematological indices, erythrocyte folate and serum vitamin B12 levels were

determined in 115 outpatients with DSM-III-R major depressive disorder at

baseline and serum B12 level again on six-month follow-up. The 17-item

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was also compiled, respectively. In the

statistical analysis we used chi-squared test, Pearson's correlation

coefficient, the Student's t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and

univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis.

 

Results

Higher vitamin B12 levels significantly associated with a better outcome.

The association between the folate level and treatment outcome was weak and

probably not independent. No relationship was found between haematological

indices and the six-month outcome.

 

Conclusion

The vitamin B12 level and the probability of recovery from major depression

may be positively associated. Nevertheless, further studies are suggested to

confirm this finding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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