Vitamin B12 Supplementation: Preventing Onset and Improving Prognosis of Depression

Abstract

Depression is a common mental health condition occurring across all ages, genders, and populations and is almost always multifaceted. It can manifest as a form of metabolic disorder, endocrine disorder, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disorders, deficiencies, or neurodegenerative disorders. Although there have been various treatment options available for the treatment of depression, it is still a sizable global health concern requiring more attention. This review article was produced by researching data and studies to prove a relationship between Vitamin B12 and depression. Numerous studies were reviewed, and based on these studies, it was concluded that supplementation of Vitamin B12 early enough can delay the onset of depression and improve the effect of anti-depressants when used in conjunction with Vitamin B12. Although other vitamins like Vitamin B6 and folate are known to have an impact on depression, we have primarily focused on Vitamin B12 in an attempt to offer the providers a foundation to address this concern with their patients prone to depression or have had a major depressive episode in their life.

Current Nanocarrier Strategies Improve Vitamin B12 Pharmacokinetics, Ameliorate Patients’ Lives, and Reduce Costs

“…The range of effects associated with VitB12 deficiency is very wide and often unrecognized and includes both mild symptoms (weakness, loss of appetite, and weight), and severe ones such as megaloblastic anemia, fertility, embryo development, cancer, and neurological modifications (e.g., numbness and tingling in limbs, depression, confusion, dementia, and optic neuropathy) [ 6 , 16 , 17 ]. In addition, VitB12 is involved in Peripheral Neuropathic Pain and supplementation can contribute to pain relief [ 18 ].…”

Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Vitamin B12 Deficiency: An Autobiographical Case Report

“…A recent systematic review concluded that deficiency of vitamin B12 is associated with a higher risk of developing depression; however, it did not find any evidence of improvement in depressive symptoms by administration of vitamin B12 [ 18 ]. There are case reports of acute psychosis as a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency as well as of acute onset of mania and gait disorder that responded well to vitamin B12 therapy [ 19 ].…”

B12 levels and frailty syndrome

“…Moore et al (2012) reviewed 43 studies and revealed that B12 subclinical levels (<250 pmol/L) are associated with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Parkinson's disease, whilst there is a small subset of dementias that are reversible with vitamin B12 administration, however this therapy does not improve cognition in patients without preexisting deficiency 8 . Finally, due to the role of vitamin B12 in the nervous system, Sangle et al (2020) suggested that the lower levels of vitamin B12 are associated with a higher risk of developing depression 9 . All these, suggest a strong correlation between low B12 levels and frailty.…”

“…Vitamin B12 deficiency is well known for its direct effects, such as megaloblastic anemia and subacute combined degeneration affecting spinal cord and peripheral nerves, dementia, etc[ 1 ]. Moreover, deficiency of B12 or low levels, may be a risk factor for other clinical manifestations such as fatigue, weakness, constipation, balance disorder, mental fogginess, peripheral tingling, depression, cognitive disorders, hematological, neurological and psychiatric disorders, coronary artery disease, or even autoimmune damage that may lead to hypothyroidism, type I diabetes mellitus, vitiligo[ 1 , 2 , 9 ]. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also responsible for causing many cases of mental disorders[ 9 ].…”

“…Adenosylcobalamin is essential for methylmalonic acid to succinyl coenzyme A conversion, as it is a coenzyme for the mitochondrial methylmalonyl-CoA mutase 4,5,7 . Vitamin B12 is also essential for other body processes, such as the isomerization of d-leucine to leucine, the conversion of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and for monoamine neurotransmitter brain synthesis 2,6,9 . Additionally vitamin B12 is crucial for cellular respiration and energy, due to its impact on Krebs cycle, which leads to the production of cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) 2 .…”