Levels of Serum Folate and Cobalamine in Clinically Depressed Patients in North Indian Population

ABSTRACT

Background: Depression, the most common type of mental illness is the second leading cause of disability worldwide next to CAD. Vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 are involved in a series of methylation reaction that produce monoamine neurotransmitters, phospholipids and nucleotide. Therefore the present study was planned to assay the blood levels of vitamin B12 and folate in patients with depression. The objective of this was to study if metabolites are affected by diet and may be helpful in the prevention of depression. Methods: Current study was an experimental case control study, was conducted at Santosh Medical College. A total of 88 cases (44 patients and 44 controls) both males and females in the age between 18 - 65 years were included in the study. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) -17 items scale was used to rate the level of depression. Results: In the present study a total of 88 subjects including 45 females and 43 males participated, out of which 44 were control, 24 males and rest 20 were females. Majority 55 patients were of no depression category, 11 were of mild depression category, 10 were of severe depression and rest 9, were of moderate depression category. Mean value of B12 were found lowest in ‘moderate’ depressed patients (115), than in ‘most severe depressed’ (137), followed by ‘severe’ and ‘mild’ depressed patients category. Value of HDRS increases with severity of depression, it was found lowest in the ‘mild’ (10.64), then it steadily increases with severity, moderate (15.11), severe (21.20) and most severe (27.55). Conclusion: This study showed that majority of the patients with clinical depression had vitamin B12 deficiency.