Monday, July 12, 2010

Vitamins B6, B12 May Protect Against Depression in Older Adults

High total intakes of vitamins B6 and B12 are associated with a lower risk for depressive symptoms over time in community-residing older adults, according to the results of a cohort study reported online June 2 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

B-vitamin deficiencies have been associated with depression; however, there is very little prospective evidence from population-based studies of older adults. The study examined whether dietary intakes of vitamins B-6, folate, or vitamin B-12 were predictive of depressive symptoms over an average of 7 years in a community-based population of older adults.

After adjustment for age, sex, race, education, income, and use of antidepressant medications, higher total vitamin intakes including supplements were associated with a lower risk for incident depression during follow-up for up to 12 years. Odds of depressive symptoms were 2% lower per year for each additional 10 mg of vitamin B6 and an additional 10 μg of vitamin B12.

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