15 February 2012
Insufficient dietary folate intake may be causally related to depressive symptoms in younger women, a new Japanese study suggests.
In the observational study, depressive symptoms and folate intakes were investigated in 141 women aged 18 to 28 years (1). Folate intake was calculated based on a diet questionnaire and the measurement of blood folate and homocysteine concentrations. The study results showed that the proportion of women with lower folate intake (less than 240 micrograms per day) was significantly higher in the women with depressive symptoms. Folate intakes of more than the recommended dietary allowance ( RDA) level of 240 micrograms per day were independently related to a decreased risk of depression.
The researchers concluded that this finding suggests that dietary folate intake may be causally related to depressive symptoms in women of reproductive age. If studies focused on investigating these causal relationships also turned out to have similar results, folate supplementation could reduce the incidence of depression.
9 January 2013
According to a new review, many sections of the population are still not getting enough vitamin D despite opportunities for enhancing intakes via fortified foods and supplements.
13 April 2012
A new review says that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids does not seem to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality for patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. Experts criticize that the review did not include many studies that showed a preventive effect.
14 November 2016
