Association between folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 intake and depression in the SUN cohort study

Abstract

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.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.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.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.