Background Folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 are nutrients that coordinately orchestrate the synthesis of compounds needed for brain development and activity. For decades, researchers have documented associations between these vitamins and neurological outcomes such as depression. Moreover, the recent fortification of the US cereal grain supply with folate to reduce the risk of neural tube defects has reenergized scientific interest in this often debated relation. Using data collected in older adult residents living in neighborhoods located in Chicago’s south side, researchers at Rush University have been able to contribute additional information concerning the possibility that inadequate consumption of these vitamins may be related to depression in this at-risk population. Results of their study, as well as an editorial written by scientists at Bangor University (United Kingdom), have been published in the August 2010 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Study Design This investigation entailed the study of 3,503 biracial adults (59% African American; mean age: 74 y) enrolled in the Chicago Health and Aging Project, an ongoing study initiated in 1993. At the beginning of the study and then every 3 y thereafter, information was collected concerning dietary intake (including nutrient supplements), symptoms of depression, sociodemographic variables, and overall health status. The researchers then statistically evaluated whether, after controlling for possible confounding factors, differences in vitamin intake were predictive of onset of depression over the course of the study.

Results The data indicated that individuals consuming the lowest amounts of vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 (but not folate) were also those most likely to be classified as depressed. Specifically, each additional 10 mg of vitamin B-6 or 10 µg of vitamin B-12 consumed was associated with a 2% decrease in risk of developing depression in a given year. Use of dietary supplements of vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-6 appeared to be especially important.

Conclusions The authors concluded that their results support the hypothesis that high intakes of vitamins B-6 and B-12 may protect against depression in older individuals. Of course, rigorously controlled intervention trials will need to be done to confirm this. In their accompanying piece, Seren Roberts and colleagues provide additional comments concerning the possibility that further fortification of flour may be beneficial to health, especially in this growing and at-risk population.

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Tags: Depression, Folate, Vitamin B