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Article
Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Trea ting Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The Open Neurology Journal
  • Ehsan Ullah Syed, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Mohammad Wasay, Aga Khan University
  • Safia Awan, Aga Khan University,
Publication Date
9-8-2013
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Abstract

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.

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Citation Information
Ehsan Ullah Syed, Mohammad Wasay and Safia Awan. "Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Trea ting Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial" The Open Neurology Journal Vol. 7 (2013) p. 44 - 48
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mohammad_wasay/55/