Folic acid and vitamin B12 deficit in children and adolescents hospitalized due to a psychiatric disorder

Downloads

Published

2018-08-15

How to Cite

Varela, E., de Castro, C., Espinosa, L., Solerdelcoll, M., Sugranyes, G., Morer, A., & Baeza, I. (2018). Folic acid and vitamin B12 deficit in children and adolescents hospitalized due to a psychiatric disorder. Revista De Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil, 34(3), 309–315. https://doi.org/10.31766/revpsij.v34n3a1

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Orginial article
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Authors

  • E Varela Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología infanto-juvenil, Hospital Clinic
  • C de Castro Centro de Salud Mental infanto-juvenil de Granollers, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
  • L Espinosa Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología infanto-juvenil, Hospital Clinic
  • M Solerdelcoll Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología infanto-juvenil, Hospital Clinic
  • G Sugranyes Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología infanto-juvenil, Hospital Clinic
  • A Morer Universitat de Barcelona
  • I Baeza Universitat de Barcelona

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31766/revpsij.v34n3a1

Keywords:

Vitamins, nutrition, deficit, B12, folic acid

Abstract

Introduction: Despite different nutritional deficits such as folic acid have been associated with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, little is known about the possible nutritional deficits in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Objective: To describe folic acid and vitamin B12 values and possible deficits of children and adolescents hospitalized due to psychiatric disorders and compared them between diagnostic categories.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients hospitalized during 2015 in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Hospital Clínic in Barcelona, Spain. Levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 were registered as well as sociodemographic data and diagnostic category, according to DSM-IV-TR criteria.

Results: 278 patients were reviewed, mean age: 14.8 years, 64% females. Vitamin B12 mean value was 420.5±152.4 pg/mL, with significant lower levels in adolescent vs children and males vs females. We also found significant differences between patients with depressive (381.3±107.5 pg/mL) vs. eating disorders (523.1 ±229.6pg/mL) (p=0.002). Folic acid mean value was 8±4.8 ng/mL, with significant lower levels in adolescents compared to children. Significant differences between patients with psychotic (5,9±2.2ng/mL) vs. eating disorders were also observed (8.1±3.6ng/mL) (p=0.019). 11.2% patients had deficit of vitamin B12, folic acid or both.

Conclusions: Around 11% of our sample had deficit of vitamin B12, folic acid or a combination of them, with some significant differences among diagnostic categories. It would be interesting to deeply study this issue due to the importance of these deficits in the paediatric population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

E Varela, Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología infanto-juvenil, Hospital Clinic

Correspondencia:
Dra. Eva Varela Bodenlle
Servicio de Psiquiatría y Psicología infanto-juvenil Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
C/Villarroel, 170 08036 Barcelona
Email: evarela@clinic.cat

References

1. Georgieff MK. Nutrition and the developing brain: nutrient priorities and measurement. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85: 614S–620S.

2. Gow RV, Hibbeln JR. Omega-3 fatty acid and nutrient deficits in adverse neurodevelopment and childhood behaviors. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2014; 23 (3): 555-590.

3. Rees GA, Doyle W, Srivastava A, Brooke ZM, Crawford MA, Costeloe KL. The nutrient intakes of mothers of low birth weight babies - a comparison of ethnic groups in East London, UK. Matern Child Nutr 2005; 1: 91–99.

4. Doyle W, Rees G. Maternal malnutrition in the UK and low birthweight. Nutr Health 2001; 15: 213–218.

5. Sowell ER, Trauner DA, Gamst A, Jemigan TL. Development of cortical and subcortical brain structures in childhood and adolescence: a structural MRI study. Dev Med Child Neurol 2002; 44 (1): 4–16.

6. John CC, Black MM, Nelson CA 3rd. Neurodevelopment: The Impact of Nutrition and Inflammation During Early to Middle Childhood in Low-Resource Settings. Pediatrics 2017; 139 (Suppl 1): S59-S71.

7. Galler JR, Koethe JR, Yolken JR. Neurodevelopment: The Impact of Nutrition and Inflammation During Adolescence in Low-Resource Settings. Pediatrics 2017; 139 (Suppl 1): S72-S84.

8. Czeizel AE, Dudás I, Paput L, Bánhidy F. Prevention of neural-tube defects with periconceptional folic acid, methylfolate, or multivitamins? Ann Nutr Metab 2011; 58: 263–271.

9. No authors listed. Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Lancet 1991; 338: 131–137.

10. Greenblatt JM, Huffman LC, Reiss AL. Folic acid in neurodevelopment and child psychiatry. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1994; 18: 647–60.

11. Mattson M, Shea TB. Folate and homocysteine metabolism in neural plasticity and neurodegenerative disorders. Trends Neurosci 2003; 26 (3): 137-146.

12. Arroll MA, Wilder L, Neil J. Nutricional interventions for the adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia: a brief review. Nutr J 2014; 13: 91.

13. Wang D, Zhai JX, Liu DW. Serum folate levels in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2016; 235: 83-89.

14. Moustafa AA, Hewedi DH, Eissa AM, Frydecka D, Misiak B. Homocysteine levels in schizophrenia and affective disorders-focus on cognition. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8: 348.

15. Goff DC, Bottiglieri T, Arning E, Shih V, Freudenreich O, Evins AE et al. Folate, homocysteine and negative symptoms in schizofrenia. Am J Psychiatry 2004; 161 (9): 1705-1708.

16. Roffman JL, Brohawn DG, Nitelson AZ, Macklin EA, Smoller JW, Goff DC. Genetic variation throughout the fotlate metabolic pathway influences negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2013; 39 (2): 330-338.

17. Stanger O, Fowler B, Piertzik K, Huemer M, Haschke-Becher E, Semmler A, et al. Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in neuropsychiatric diseases: review and treatment recommendations. Expert Rev Neurother 2009; 9 (9): 1393–1412.

18. Herbison CE, Hickling S, Allen KL, O´Sullivan TA, Robinson M, Bremner AP, et al. Low intake of B-vitamins is associated with poor adolescent mental health and behaviour. Prev Med 2012; 55 (6): 634-638.

19. Esnafo?lu E, Yaman E. Vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and vitamin D levels in children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Res 2017; 254: 232-237.

20. Moreno LA, González-Gross M, Kersting M, Molnár D, de Henauw S, Beghin L, et al. Assessing, understanding and modifying nutritional status, eating habits and physical activity in European adolescents. The HELENA Study. Public Health Nutr 2008; 11: 288–299.

21. Moreno LA, Gottrand F, Huybrechts I, Ruiz JR, González-Gross M, DeHenauw S, et al. Nutrition and Lifestyle in European Adolescents: The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study. Advances in Nutrition 2014; 5 (5): 615S-623S.

22. Diethelm K, Jankovic N, Moreno LA, Huybrechts I, De Henauw S, De Vriendt T, et al. Food intake of European adolescents in the light of different foodbased dietary guidelines: results of the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study. Public Health Nutr 2012; 15: 386–398.

23. Diethelm K, Huybrechts I, Moreno L, De Henauw S, Manios Y, Beghin L, et al. Nutrient intake of European adolescents: results of the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study. Public Health Nutr 2014; 17: 486–497.

24. Walker ER, McGee RE, Druss BG. Mortality in mental disorders and global disease burden implications: a systematic review and metaanalysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2015; 72: 334–341.

25. Fleischhacker WW, Cetkovich-Bakmas M, De Hert M, Hennekens CH, Lambert M, Leucht S, et al. Comorbid somatic illnesses in patients with severe mental disorders: clinical, policy, and research challenges. J Clin Psychiatry 2008; 69: 514–519.

26. Connell J, Brazier J, O’Cathain A, Lloyd-Jones M, Paisley S. Quality of life of people with mental health problems: a synthesis of qualitative research. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2012; 10: 138.

27. Stanger O, Fowler B, Piertzik K, Huemer M, Haschke-Becher E, Semmler A, et al. Homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in neuropsychiatric diseases: review and treatment recommendations. Expert Rev Neurother 2009; 9 (9): 1393-1412.

28. Kale A, Naphade N, Sapkale S, Kamaraju M, Pillai A, Joshi S, et al. Reduced folic acid, vitamin B12, and docosahexaenoic acid and increased homocysteine and cortisol in never-medicated schizophrenia patients: implications for altered one-carbon metabolism. Psychiatry Res 2010; 175 (1–2): 47–53.

29. Bottiglieri T, Laundy M, Crellin R, Toone BK, Carney MW, Reynolds EH. Homocysteine, folate, methylation, and monoamine metabolism in depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000; 69 (2): 228-232.