부산대학교 도서관

Vitamins B9 (folic acid) and B12 (cobalamin) may be determinants of mental illness in older adults. Deficiencies of these vitamins have been implicated in the etiology and treatment of both mental and neurologic disorders. Both vitamins have import because they subserve vital functions in the synthetic pathways for the monoamine neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Cross-sectional data from epidemiologic surveys of adult subjects suggest that low levels of one or both of these vitamins may predispose to clinical depression. One well-controlled trial found that folate treatment significantly augmented therapeutic response to fluoxetine compared to placebo. Poor nutrition alone does not appear to fully account for low levels of folate and B12 observed in some depressed subjects. Data from longitudinal studies in progress and a recently reported trial should help define what role vitamin therapy may play in prevention and treatment of depressive disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]