Vitamin B deficiency and depression:
Vitamin B deficiency among depressive patients of Turkish (n=47) and Dutch (n=28) descent was examined to determine the relationship between the frequency of vitamin B deficiency and depression. Depression was diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-21) were used to determine severity of symptoms. Levels of vitamin B6 and B12, folic acid and homocysteine (tHcy) were measured at baseline. Results indicate patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia had significantly higher BDI scores than those with normal levels. (6)