The comparison of folate and vitamin B12 levels between depressive and nondepressive postmenopausal women

Abstract

To investigate if there is any association between the serum folate and vitamin B12 status and the depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. The study included 95 postmenopausal women. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess their depressive symptoms. The investigated women were classified into 2 groups based on the existence of depressive symptoms. These 2 groups were compared in terms of folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. Among 95 cases, 27 postmenopausal women scored 16 or more on the CES-D scale and were classified as the depressive group (Group 1), and 68 postmenopausal women scored 15 or less and were classified as the nondepressive group (Group 2). The serum levels of folate were 11.5 ± 5.4 ng/mL in group 1 and 12.3 ± 5.3 ng/mL in group 2. The concentrations of vitamin B12 were 456.2 ± 343.4 pg/mL in group 1 and 446.5 ± 165.1 pg/mL in group 2. The folate and vitamin B12 levels did not significantly correlate to the frequency of depressive symptoms (P = 0.52 and P = 0.24, respectively). In this study, no correlation was detected between serum folate and vitamin B12 levels and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. Supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B12 for postmenopausal women does not seem to be an effective intervention to reduce depressive symptoms.