Can a Folate Deficiency Worsen Depression?

Decreased levels of serum folate appear to be linked to a higher risk for depressive symptoms, according to a large population-based, cross-sectional study.

This is important because scientific research is finding that SSRI anti-depressants may not help depression because serotonin levels don’t appear to affect depression symptoms.

Data on US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) show elevated depressive symptoms were inversely associated with folate status, particularly among women.

Lead investigator, May A. Beydoun, Ph.D., MPH, stated: “We found that the odds of having elevated depressive symptoms among individuals with the highest serum folate levels were about half that of those with the lowest levels.”

Prior research suggests that high levels of total homocysteine and low levels of folate and vitamin B12 are associated with depression or elevated depressive symptoms in adults.