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Association between folate, vitamin B 6 and vitamin B 12 intake and depression in the SUN cohort study
Author(s) -
SánchezVillegas A.,
Doreste J.,
Schlatter J.,
Pla J.,
BesRastrollo M.,
MartínezGonzález M. A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-277x.2008.00931.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin b , cohort , depression (economics) , vitamin d and neurology , cohort study , vitamin b12 , vitamin , b vitamins , economics , macroeconomics
Background: An association between low blood levels of folate, vitamins B 6 and B 12 and a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms has been reported in several epidemiological studies. The present study aimed to assess the association between folate, vitamins B 6 and B 12 intake and depresion prevalence in the SUN cohort study. Methods: The study comprised a cross‐sectional analysis of 9670 participants. A validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to ascertain vitamin intake. The association between the baseline intake of folate, vitamins B 6 and B 12 categorised in quintiles and the prevalence of depression was assessed. The analyses were repeated after stratifying by smoking habits, alcohol intake, physical activity and personality traits. Results: Among women, odds ratios (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for the third to fifth quintile for vitamin B 12 intake were 0.58 (0.41–0.84), 0.56 (0.38–0.82) and 0.68 (0.45–1.04), respectively. Among those men with a low level of anxiety and current smokers, a significant positive association between low folate intake and the prevalence of depression was found. The OR (95% CI) for the first quintile of intake was 2.85 (1.49–5.45) and 2.18 (1.08–4.38), respectively, compared to the upper quintiles of intake (Q2–Q5) considered as a group. Conclusion: Low folate intake was associated with depression among currently smoking men and men with low anxiety levels. Low intake of vitamin B 12 was associated with depression among women. No significant associations were found for vitamin B 6 intake.