Folate and B12 serum levels in association with depression in the aged: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#aged #aged-80-and-over #depressive-disorder #female #folic-acid

Folate and B12 serum levels in association with depression in the aged: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Petridou et al., 2016 | Aging Ment Health | Meta Analysis

Citation

Petridou Eleni Th, Kousoulis Antonis A, ... Stefanadis Christodoulos. Folate and B12 serum levels in association with depression in the aged: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Ment Health. 2016-Sep;20(9):965-73. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1049115

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review and meta-analyse existing evidence on the association between folate/B12, and depression among the aged people. METHODS: Following PRISMA/STROBE guidelines, the Medline abstracts were retrieved using an algorithm comprising relevant MeSH terms. Publications on the association of folate/B12 serum measurements with depression were abstracted independently by two reviewers and included in both gender and gender-specific meta-analyses, following recarculations of published data as appropriate. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Both gender data were contributed by 11 folate-related (7949 individuals) and 9 B12-related studies (6308 individuals), whereas gender-specific data by 4 folate-related (3409 individuals) and 3 B12-related studies (1934 individuals). A statistically significant overall association between both exposures of interest (low folate and B12 levels) and depression was observed (ORfolate:1.23, 95%CI:1.07-1.43, ORB12:1.20, 95%CI:1.02-1.42). Gender-specific estimates pointed to a statistically significant positive association between low B12 levels and depression only among women (OR:1.33, 95%CI:1.02-1.74); the gender specific associations of low folate levels with depression were, however, non-significant and of counter-direction (ORfemales:1.37, 95%CI:0.90-2.07; ORmales:0.84, 95%CI:0.57-1.25). CONCLUSION: Low folate and B12 serum levels seem to be associated with depression in the aged. The gender-specific analyses are confined to a positive association of low B12 with depression among older women and call for further research in this direction.

Key Findings

Both gender data were contributed by 11 folate-related (7949 individuals) and 9 B12-related studies (6308 individuals), whereas gender-specific data by 4 folate-related (3409 individuals) and 3 B12-related studies (1934 individuals). A statistically significant overall association between both exposures of interest (low folate and B12 levels) and depression was observed (ORfolate:1.23, 95%CI:1.07-1.43, ORB12:1.20, 95%CI:1.02-1.42). Gender-specific estimates pointed to a statistically significant

Outcomes Measured

  • depression

Population

Field Value
Population older women
Sample Size 7949
Age Range See abstract
Condition depression

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Female
  • Folic Acid
  • Humans
  • Male

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: folate

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09