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.
10 January 2014
According to a new US study, increased intakes of micronutrients, such as beta-carotene and vitamin C and D, are recommended for trauma patients with wound-healing problems, as they seem to have higher nutrient requirements and increased oxidative stress.
11 April 2011
Increased intake of docosahexaenoic acid in baby formula or breast milk is safe and may benefit the growth of the pre-term infants, says a new Australian study.
6 April 2018
