Levels of Vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Study finds

According to a study published in journal neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, It is known that elevated serum homocysteine, decreased folate, and low vitamin B12 serum levels are associated with poor cognitive function, cognitive decline, and dementia. Current literature shows that some psychiatric disorders, mainly affective and psychotic ones, can be related to the levels of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine. These results can be explained by the importance of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine in carbon transfer metabolism (methylation), which is required for the production of serotonin as well as for other monoamine neurotransmitters and catecholamines.

Patients who were diagnosed with OCD according to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria were approached and informed about the aims and methods of the study. Among the patients, the ones who did not have mental retardation and/or psychosis, and the ones who provided their informed consent were enrolled in the study. Other exclusion criteria were defined as the history of any endocrinological condition, being pregnant, lactating or having childbearing potential, having clinically relevant abnormal laboratory test results, including megaloblastic anaemia, alcohol abuse and dependence and a positive history of immunologic disease. Twenty-two healthy control subjects who matched with the patients in terms of sex and age were chosen from the hospital staff according to exclusion criteria.

While the mean age of the patient group was 34.0±10.5 years, it was 33.1±8.3 years in the controls. The patient and control groups were mostly female (88.6% and 86.4%, respectively). The groups had no significant differences in terms of their sociodemographic data. The mean age at onset of OCD was 22.1±8.5 years and the mean duration of OCD was 141.8±111.0 months in the patient group.

This study showed that some of the patients with OCD had vitamin B12 deficiency and higher homocysteine levels. However, the sample was too small to conclude that this finding is an important biological indicator for OCD. Although more detailed studies regarding this phenomenon are to be carried out, these findings can provide a starting point for future research.

References: Fafouti M, Paparrigopoulos T, Liappas J, Mantouvalos V, Typaldou R, Christodoulou G. Mood disorder with mixed features due to vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2002;24(2):106–109.