Associations between dietary intake of B-vitamins and psychological disorders among Iranian women: a cross-sectional study

Exploring the Association between Serum B Vitamins, Homocysteine and Mental Disorders: Insights from Mendelian Randomization

Previous studies show that B vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) may be associated with mental disorders, but the accurate causal relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the potential causal relationship of serum B vitamins and Hcy levels with five common mental disorders through a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. In this MR analysis, 50 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-13 related to folate, 17 to vitamin B6, 8 to vitamin B12 and 12 to Hcy-were obtained from a large-scale Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) database and employed as instrumental variables (IVs). The MR analyses were conducted using the inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WM), MR-Egger methods and sensitivity analyses were further performed to test the robustness. This MR study found a suggestive causal relationships between serum vitamin B12 levels and the risk of anxiety disorders (odds ratio (OR): 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.78, p = 0.046) and bipolar affective disorders (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.16-2.96, p = 0.010). However, folate, vitamin B6 and Hcy levels may not be causally associated with the risk of mental disorders. In conclusion, this study reveals that elevated serum vitamin B12 levels might suggestively increase the risk of anxiety and bipolar affective disorders, even though horizontal pleiotropy cannot be completely eliminated. The potential implications of our results warrant validation in larger GWAS based on diverse populations.

Associations of dietary methyl donor nutrients with common psychological conditions (depression, anxiety and stress) among reproductive-aged women in Kabul, Afghanistan

BACKGROUND

Higher levels of methyl donor nutrients may be associated with better psychological conditions. Little is known about the association of methyl donor nutrients with psychological conditions among women especially in Asian countries such as Afghanistan.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul, Afghanistan to assess the association of methyl donor nutrients with common psychological conditions (depression, anxiety and stress) among reproductive-aged women using multistage random sampling to choose one health center from each municipality out of four cardinal directions. Finally a sample of 421 reproductive-aged women with a mean BMI of 23.3 ± 5.0 kg/m2 and an age range of 15-45 years were collected. All women's dietary intakes were obtained using a 24-recall questionnaire. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) was used to assess psychological conditions. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs were performed to assess general characteristics. Residual model test while adjusting for energy intake was used to assess nutrient intake of methyl donor nutrients and food groups. We fitted logistic regression models to assess risk for Common mental health problems (CMHPs) based on methyl donor tertiles.

RESULT

We observed that there is no significant association between methyl donor nutrients and psychological disorders in both crude and adjusted models (depression, OR = 0.95, CI: 0.48; 1.88; anxiety, OR = 0.88, CI: 0.43, 1.79; stress, OR = 0.73, CI: 0.38, 1.40), (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Overall, we did not find any significant association between methyl donor nutrients and depression, anxiety and stress.

Dietary riboflavin intake in relation to psychological disorders in Iranian adults: an observational study

Findings of earlier investigations on association between dietary riboflavin intake and psychological disorders are contradictory. Therefore, the relation between dietary riboflavin intake and depression, anxiety, and psychological distress was assessed in Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes of 3362 middle-aged adults were collected using a validated dish-based food frequency questionnaire. Daily intake of riboflavin for each participant was calculated by summing up the amount of riboflavin contents of all foods and dishes. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), as validated questionnaires among Iranians, have been applied to assess depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. After considering potential confounders, adults in the top energy-adjusted quartile of riboflavin intake, compared to the bottom quartile, had decreased odds of depression (OR = 0.66; 95%CI 0.49, 0.88), anxiety (OR = 0.64; 95%CI 0.44, 0.94) and high psychological distress (OR = 0.65; 95%CI 0.48, 0.89). Stratified analysis by sex revealed that men in the forth quartile of riboflavin intake, compared with those in the first quartile, had respectively 51 and 55% lower odds of depression (OR = 0.49; 95%CI 0.29, 0.83) and anxiety (OR = 0.45; 95%CI 0.21, 0.95). In women, riboflavin intake was significantly associated with lower odds of psychological distress (OR = 0.67; 95%CI 0.46, 0.98). An inverse relation was observed between dietary riboflavin intake and chance of psychological disorders in Iranian adults. High intake of riboflavin decreased the chance of depression and anxiety in men and high psychological distress in women. More prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Dietary methyl donor micronutrients intake in relation to psychological disorders in adults

Previous investigations have mostly studied an individual methyl donor nutrient in relation to psychological disorders and the findings were inconsistent. We investigated the association of methyl donor micronutrients (folate, B₆, B₁₂, choline, betaine and methionine) with psychological disorders in Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes of 3299 adults were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Methyl donor micronutrient score (MDMS) was calculated based on energy-adjusted deciles of each nutrient. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), validated for Iranians, have been applied to assess depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Participants had a mean age of 36·3 ± 7·9 years, of whom 58·5 % were women. After considering potential confounders, adults in the top quartile of MDMS, compared to the bottom one, had decreased odds of anxiety (OR: 0·53, 95 % CI: 0·37, 0·75), depression (OR: 0·75, 95 % CI: 0·58, 0·97) and psychological distress (OR: 0·61, 95 % CI: 0·46, 0·80). Among women, the top quartile of MDMS was protectively associated with anxiety (OR: 0·60, 95 % CI: 0·40, 0·90), depression (OR: 0·68, 95 % CI: 0·50, 0·93) and psychological distress (OR: 0·53, 95 % CI: 0·38, 0·74). Overweight and obese subjects in the highest quartile of MDMS had a 67 %, 35 % and 53 % lower odds of anxiety (95 % CI: 0·20, 0·56), depression (95 % CI: 0·44, 0·94) and psychological distress (95 % CI: 0·31, 0·70), respectively. We found that high consumption of methyl donor micronutrients was related to a reduced odds of psychological disorders, especially in women and overweight or obese individuals.

Possible involvement of NO-sGC-cGMP signaling in the antidepressant like effect of pyridoxine in mice

The present study was designed to determine the antidepressant like effect of pyridoxine in mice. Pyridoxine (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to the mice and depression related behavioral and neurochemical alterations were determined. It was observed that pyridoxine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment decreased the immobility period in tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) significantly as compared to control. Pyridoxine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment increased the level of serotonin (5-HT) and decreased the level of nitrite in the brain of mice significantly as compared to control. Pyridoxine thus confer antidepressant like effect by increasing the level of 5-HT and by decreasing the level of nitrite in the brain of mice. Further the influence of nitric oxide (NO)/ soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)/ cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in antidepressant-like effect of pyridoxine was studied. It was observed that the pretreatment of NO donor (i.e. L-Arginine) and cGMP modulator (i.e. sildenafil) counteracted while the pretreatment of NO/sGC inhibitor (i.e. methylene blue) potentiated the effect of pyridoxine in TST and FST. Pretreatment of NO donor did not influence, pretreatment of NO/sGC inhibitor decreased while the pretreatment of cGMP modulator increased the level of brain nitrite in pyridoxine treated mice. Further the pretreatment of NO donor and cGMP modulator decreased while the pretreatment of NO/sGC inhibitor increased the level of brain serotonin in pyridoxine treated mice. Pyridoxine thus exerted antidepressant like effect and NO-sGC-cGMP signaling modulated the antidepressant like effect of pyridoxine in mice.