title: Natural food folate and late-life depression.
abstract: Low folate status has been linked to depression, but findings have been inconsistent. The authors sought to examine the association between folate intake and late-life depression. This cross-sectional study included individuals age 60 and older (n = 111 depression, n = 136 comparison). Depression participants received psychiatric care. Folate and kilocalorie intakes were assessed with a Block 1998 food frequency questionnaire. Naturally occurring food folate was inversely associated with depression after controlling for age, sex, race, education, and total energy (P = 0.0047). All other folate variables including total dietary folate and folic acid were non-significant for depression. These findings may indicate that the naturally occurring form of folate is uniquely protective for depression and perhaps brain health. Alternatively, natural folate may be a surrogate for other nutrients or overall dietary quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Neuropsychiatric Imaging Research Laboratory, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. Martha.Payne@duke.edu
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Brenda D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jamerson
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Potocky
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ashley-Koch
authors.forename: Marcy C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Speer
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Steffens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid