Posted by kathryn in Health News and Folate

A follow up to my posts about folic acid fortification here in Australia, new research from the UK has linked depression to low folate levels.

Last month, the Food Standards Agency in the UK put forward a recommendation that either bread or flour be fortified with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. It has been suggested that this latest research means fortification may help with depression.

The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health , comprised a review of 11 previous studies, involving 15,315 participants. As the study leader, Dr Simon Gilbody says:

“Our study is unique in that for the first time all the relevant evidence in this controversial area has been brought together. Although the research does not prove that low folate causes depression, we can now be sure that the two are linked. Interestingly, there is also some trial evidence that suggests folic acid supplements can benefit people with depression. We recommend that large trials should be carried out to further test this suggestion.”

29 June, 2007