The Role of Folate in Depression

Dietary management of depression with Deplin^® regulates all 3 monoamine neurotransmitters associated with mood by providing the increased requirements for folate in the brain. L-methylfolate is needed by depressed patients with suboptimal folate to regulate the synthesis of monoamines (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) and known as a trimonoamine modulator (TMM). By managing trimonoamine neurotransmitter synthesis, L-methylfolate, when taken with antidepressants, improves benefits.^1,2

• Depressed patients with low RBC folate are 6 times more likely not to respond to antidepressant therapy and less likely to achieve remission.^26,27
• Low serum and/or low red blood cell folate levels have been reported in 15%-56% of depressed patients.^28,29
• The severity of a depressive episode, length of an episode, and later onset of clinical improvement are inversely related with RBC folate levels.^30,31,32,33
• Low RBC folate levels in depressed patients are correlated with impairment in the synthesis and release of monoamine neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine^{10, 34, 35}

Risk Factors for Low Folate^{10,11,13,26,27,30,36,37}

Deplin^® (7.5mg or 15mg L-methylfolate) is a prescription medical food for the dietary management of suboptimal folate levels in depressed patients.

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