Abstract
Although evidence suggests that homocysteine levels are elevated in severe mental illness in children, findings regarding homocysteine levels in youth with anxiety and depression are scarce. Therefore, this study examined the association of homocysteine levels with anxiety and depression in a community sample of students aged 6–13 years. In total, 649 students were selected from the first, fourth, and seventh grades of schools in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2010. These students completed a hospital-based health examination, which included physical examination, blood sample collection, and questionnaire administration. The data were analysed through multiple linear regression. Among the seventh-grade boys, both depression (adjusted β = 0.044, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.004–0.084) and anxiety (adjusted β = 0.052, 95% CI = 0.013–0.091) were independently associated with increased homocysteine levels. In further dichotomisation, compared with students with low anxiety levels, those with moderate to high anxiety levels were significantly positively associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels (adjusted β = 0.091, 95% CI = 0.003–0.180). Our results suggest that increased depression and anxiety may be positively associated with higher serum homocysteine levels in older boys. Our results provide essential data on the biological aspects underlying anxiety and depression in the studied population.
Highlights
Epidemiologic studies focusing on mental illness in children and adolescents have indicated a high prevalence of anxiety and depression, which occur together[1] in up to 3.4% of cases of anxiety and 9.5% of cases of depression, leading to functional impairment and negative consequences[2]
Homocysteine, a sulphurated amino acid derived from ingested methionine, is a component of the homocysteine–methionine cycle, which mediates methylation and plays a crucial role in maintaining the biochemical balance within the central nervous system[5]
We hypothesised that higher anxiety and depression may be associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels
Summary
Epidemiologic studies focusing on mental illness in children and adolescents have indicated a high prevalence of anxiety and depression, which occur together (i.e., as a comorbidity)[1] in up to 3.4% of cases of anxiety and 9.5% of cases of depression, leading to functional impairment and negative consequences[2]. A growing body of research has demonstrated that elevated homocysteine levels may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric diseases including coronary artery disease, stroke, dementia, and depression in adults[5,6,7,8]. Several studies from Western countries have demonstrated an increase in homocysteine levels in adults and elderly patients with depression[9,10,11]; no consensus exists on a similar association in such adults in Eastern countries[12]. This study was conducted to examine the association of homocysteine levels in youth with anxiety and depression in the metropolitan Taipei area of Taiwan. We hypothesised that higher anxiety and depression may be associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels
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