The Effect of Vitamins Consumption on Depression

Nutrition and depression are intricately and undeniably linked, as suggested by the mounting evidence by researchers in neuropsychiatry. According to a study reported in Neuropsychobiology, supplementation of nine vitamins, 10 times in excess of normal recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for 1-year improved mood in both men and women. The interesting part was that these changes in mood after a year occurred even though the blood status of nine vitamins reached a plateau after 3 months. This mood improvement was particularly associated with improved vitamin B2 and B6 status. In women, baseline vitamin B1 status was linked with poor mood and an improvement in the same after 3 months was associated with improved mood. Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is known to modulate cognitive performance particularly in the geriatric population.

Clinical trials have indicated that Vitamin B12 (Cynobalamin) delays the onset of signs of dementia (and blood abnormalities), if it is administered in a precise clinical timing window, before the onset of the first symptoms. Supplementation with cobalamin enhances cerebral and cognitive functions in the elderly; it frequently promotes the functioning of factors related to the frontal lobe, in addition to the language function of people with cognitive disorders. Adolescents who have a borderline level of vitamin B12 deficiency develop signs of cognitive changes.

Folate's vital role in brain metabolic processes has been recognized by many researchers who have noted that depressive symptoms are the most common neuropsychiatric manifestation of folate deficiency. Folate (Vitamin B9) has been observed that patients with depression have blood folate levels, which are, on an average, 25% lower than healthy controls. Low levels of folate have also been identified as a strong predisposing factor of poor outcome with antidepressant therapy. A controlled study has been reported to have shown that 500 mcg of folic acid enhanced the effectiveness of antidepressant medication. Folate's critical role in brain metabolic pathways has been well recognized by various researchers who have noted that depressive symptoms are the most common neuropsychiatric manifestation of folate deficiency. It is not clear yet whether poor nutrition, as a symptom of depression, causes folate deficiency or primary folate deficiency produces depression and its symptoms.

Randomised, controlled trials that involve folate and B12 suggest that patients treated with 0. 8 mg of folic acid/day or 0. 4 mg of vitamin B12 per day will exhibit decreased depression symptoms. Epidemiological evidence shows that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an 8%–14% increase in depression and a 50% increase in suicide; however, causality and efficacy of supplementation remain controversial awaiting confirmation by systematic review and meta-analysis.