Vitamin B<sub>6</sub> Level Is Associated with Symptoms of Depression

Vol. 73, No. 6, 2004

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Vitamin B₆ Level Is Associated with Symptoms of Depression
Anne-Mette Hvas^a, Svend Juul^b, Per Bech^c, Ebba Nexø^a

^aDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, AKH,
^bDepartment of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, and
^cPsychiatric Research Unit, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark

Address of Corresponding Author

Psychother Psychosom 2004;73:340-343 (DOI: 10.1159/000080386)

Key Words

Vitamin B₆
Pyridoxal phosphate
Depression

Abstract

Background: A low level of vitamin B₆ might theoretically cause depression as vitamin B₆ is a cofactor in the tryptophan-serotonin pathway. In the present study, we examined the association between depression and the phosphate derivative of vitamin B₆ in plasma, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). Methods: In 140 individuals, symptoms of depression were evaluated by the Major Depression Inventory, and biochemical markers of vitamin B deficiency were measured. Results: We found that 18 (13%) individuals were depressed. A low plasma level of PLP was significantly associated with the depression score (p = 0.002). No significant association was found between depression and plasma vitamin B₁₂ (p = 0.13), plasma methylmalonic acid (p = 0.67), erythrocyte folate (p = 0.77), and plasma total homocysteine (p = 0.16). Conclusion: Our study suggests that a low level of plasma PLP is associated with symptoms of depression. Randomized trials are now justified and needed in order to examine whether treatment with vitamin B₆ may improve symptoms of depression.

Author Contacts

Anne-Mette Hvas
Department of Clinical Biochemistry
Aarhus University Hospital, AKH, Noerrebrogade 44
DK-8000 Århus C (Denmark)
Tel. +45 8949 3066, Fax +45 8949 3060, E-Mail am.hvas@dadlnet.dk

Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 23

Medline Abstract (ID 15479988)

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