Predictive value of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels in late-life depression.
BACKGROUND
The role of folate, vitamin B(12) and homocysteine levels in depression is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate cross-sectional and prospective associations between folate, B(12) and homocysteine levels and late-life depression.


METHODS
A total of 732 Korean people aged 65 years or over were evaluated at baseline. Of the 631 persons who were not depressed, 521 (83%) were followed over a period of 2-3 years and incident depression was ascertained with the Geriatric Mental State schedule. Serum folate, serum vitamin B(12) and plasma homocysteine levels were assayed at both baseline and follow-up.


RESULTS
Lower levels of folate and vitamin B(12) and higher homocysteine levels at baseline were associated with a higher risk of incident depression at follow-up. Incident depression was associated with a decline in vitamin B(12) and an increase in homocysteine levels over the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower folate, lower vitamin B(12) and raised homocysteine levels may be risk factors for late-life depression.
Kim
Jae-Min
JM
Department of Psychiatry and Depression Clinical Research Centre, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Republic of Korea.
Stewart
Robert
R
Kim
Sung-Wan
SW
Yang
Su-Jin
SJ
Shin
Il-Seon
IS
Yoon
Jin-Sang
JS
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid