Natural food folate and late-life depression

Low folate status has been linked to depression, but findings have been inconsistent. The authors sought to examine the association between folate intake and late-life depression. This cross-sectional study included individuals age 60 and older (n = 111 depression, n = 136 comparison). Depression participants received psychiatric care. Folate and kilocalorie intakes were assessed with a Block 1998 food frequency questionnaire. Naturally occurring food folate was inversely associated with depression after controlling for age, sex, race, education, and total energy (P = 0.0047). All other folate variables including total dietary folate and folic acid were non-significant for depression. These findings may indicate that the naturally occurring form of folate is uniquely protective for depression and perhaps brain health. Alternatively, natural folate may be a surrogate for other nutrients or overall dietary quality.