Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that occurs naturally in foods and is available over the counter in multi-vitamins and B-vitamin complexes. B12 is also available in prescription form as an injectable or nasal spray. The vitamin helps the body make red blood cells, contributes to neurological function and helps the body metabolize food. Vitamin B12 is also linked to the chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that control mood.
Depression
Depression is a serious and potentially threatening psychological disorder. Unlike normal feelings of sadness, which everyone experiences in passing, depression can linger for days, weeks or even months at a time. Symptoms can go from mild to severe and include feelings of hopelessness and guilt, loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, and fatigue. In severe cases, depressed individuals will have suicidal thoughts and even attempt suicide. Depression has no single cause and several factors, such as genetics, environment and biochemistry, can contribute to the condition, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.
B12 and Depression
Up to 30 percent of patients hospitalized with depression show vitamin B12 deficiencies, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Additionally, a study of 700 women over 65 and living in a community for the disabled showed that those who were B12 deficient were twice as likely to be severely depressed. One hypothesis is that the B12 deficiency interferes with S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe, production. SAMe is a sulfur-based chemical that exists in all the cells in the body. It is also available in supplement form and has been proven effective in the treatment of depression. The body uses B12 and folate, another B vitamin, to synthesize SAMe. The Linus Pauling Institute further states that, while B12 may be associated with SAMe production, the exact mechanism for depression is unclear.
B12 Deficiency Symptoms
Depression is a symptom of B12 deficiency but it is unclear if the depression presented is the result of major depressive disorder, or a result of the other symptoms. Because a B12 deficiency can also cause fatigue, dementia and confusion, these symptoms may be contributing factors of depression. A prolonged B12 deficiency can cause permanent neurological damage, which can also contribute to depression.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic advises that B12 supplementation may help relieve the symptoms of depression, but patients should not use supplements in place of standard treatments, such as antidepressants and counseling. Due to the serious nature of the disorder, anyone experiencing symptoms of depression should consult his physician.
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