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Low Serum Folate Levels as a Risk Factor for Depressive Mood in Patients With Chronic Epilepsy

Received March 12, 2001; revised August 9, 2001; accepted August 24, 2001. From the Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm, Ravensburg, Germany. Address correspondence to Dr. Rösche, Department of Neurology and Epileptology (Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm), Die Weissenau, Weingartshoferstr, 88214 Ravensburg, Germany.

This study takes into consideration whether low serum folate levels may contribute to depressive mood in patients with chronic epilepsy. The serum folate levels and the score on the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were examined in 46 patients with chronic epilepsy. Patients with a score indicating at least minor depression on the SDS had a significantly lower serum folate level than patients with a normal score on SDS. There was a significant negative correlation between the serum folate levels and the SDS score. A serum folate level below 7.5 ng/ml was significantly associated with a pathological score on SDS. Because a serum folate level of 7.5 ng/ml is in the normal range for many laboratories, further studies using total plasma homocysteine as a sensitive measure of functional folate deficiency are required to elucidate the impact of folate metabolism on depressive mood in patients with chronic epilepsy.

Key Words: Depression • Epilepsy • Folic Acid

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Gilbody, T. Lightfoot, and T. Sheldon Is low folate a risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity J Epidemiol Community Health, July 1, 2007; 61(7): 631 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Coppen and C. Bolander-Gouaille Treatment of depression: time to consider folic acid and vitamin B12 J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 2005; 19(1): 59 - 65. [Abstract] [PDF]

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