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

Abstract

Background: An association between low blood levels of B-vitaminsor high serum homocysteine levels and a higher prevalence ofdepressive symptoms has been reported in several epidemiologicalstudies.Objectives: To assess the association between the baselineintake of B-vitamins categorized in quintiles and the prevalence ofdepression.Design and Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 9,670participants in the SUN cohort study. We used a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (136 items) to ascertainB-vitamins intake.Results: Among women, Odds ratios (0R) (95%CI) for the third to fifth quintile for vitamin B12 intake were 0.58(0.41–0.84), 0.56 (0.38–0.82) and 0.68 (0.45–1.04) respectively.When we considered together the three upper quintiles of vitaminB12 as a group, the OR for depression among women was 0.59(95%CI = 0.43–0.81). The results indicated an inverse dose-re-sponse relationship (p for trend = 0.006). Among men with a lowlevel of anxiety and for current smokers we found a significantpositive association between a low folate intake and the prevalenceof depression (ORs for the first quintiles of intake were 2.85 (1.49–5.45) and 2.18 (1.08–4.38) respectively, compared to the upperquintiles (Q2-Q5) considered as a group. No significant associa-tions between vitamin B6 intake and depression were found.