RESEARCH ARTICLE

Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Treating Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Ehsan Ullah Syed2 Mohammad Wasay1 , * Open Modal Safia Awan1 , * Open Modal Authors Info & Affiliations
The Open Neurology Journal 15 Nov 2013 RESEARCH ARTICLE DOI: 10.2174/1874205X01307010044

Abstract

Background/Objective:

Recent literature has identified links between vitamin B12 deficiency and depression.We compared the clinical response of SSRI-monotherapy with that of B12-augmentation in a sample of depressed patients with low normal B12 levels who responded inadequately to the first trial with the SSRIs.

Methods:

Patients with depression and low normal B12 levels were randomized to a control arm (antidepressant only) or treatment arm (antidepressants and injectable vitamin B12 supplementation).

Results:

A total of 199 depressed patients were screened. Out of 73 patients with low normal B12 levels 34 (47%) were randomized to the treatment group while 39 (53%) were randomized to the control arm. At three months follow up 100% of the treatment group showed at least a 20% reduction in HAM-D score, while only 69% in the control arm showed at least a 20% reduction in HAM-D score (p<0.001). The findings remained significant after adjusting for baseline HAM-D score (p=0.001).

Conclusion:

Vitamin B12 supplementation with antidepressants significantly improved depressive symptoms in our cohort.

Keywords:: Depression, vitamin B12, antidepressants, RCT.
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