• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • 2MM Podcast
  • Write for us
  • Contact Us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Chronic Disease

Prescription of folic acid supplementation was associated with reduced suicidal behavior

byYidi WangandAvneesh Bhangu
October 7, 2022
in Chronic Disease, Psychiatry, Wellness
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. In patients with prescription for folic acid, rate of suicidal behavior was lower in months with prescription compared to months without.

2. Furthermore, amongst patients with prescriptions for vitamin D12, rates of suicidal behavior did not differ between months with or without prescription.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States (US), with increasing incidences particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, additional therapeutic options that may modulate suicidal behavior are needed. Folic acid levels have been associated with depression and suicidality in small case-control studies. Furthermore, folic acid supplementation has been shown to augment therapy for patients with depression. However, whether folic acid supplementation alone can modulate suicidal behavior has not been well characterized.

This study was a within-person exposure-only cohort study design using insurance claims data from 866 586 (81.3% female) adult patients in the US. Patients aged 18 years or older with private health insurance were included in the study. The exposure was folic acid supplementation as measured by having a folic acid prescription. The negative control group was patients exposed to cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). The primary outcome was rate of intentional self-harm captured using diagnoses codes for suicide attempts, depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and pain.

The study results demonstrated that there were fewer suicidal events during months covered by folic acid prescription compared to months without (4.73 vs. 10.61 per 100,000 person-months). In contrast, there were no differences in suicidal event rate between months with vitamin B12 prescription and months without. However, this study was limited as it found that many patients prescribed folic acid had a pain disorder or were taking folate-reducing agents, which limits the generalizability of these results. Nonetheless, these results warrant further study of possible mechanisms of action underpinning the association between folic acid and suicidal behavioral, as well as randomized control studies to test whether the association is due to a causative relationship.

RELATED REPORTS

Time-restricted eating does not confer changes in sleep, mood, or quality of life

Food compounds associated with disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease 

Reductions in pain catastrophizing are associated with improvements in emotional functioning

Click to read the study in JAMA Psychiatry 

Image: PD

©2022 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: folic acidfoodnutritionpsychiatrysuicidewellness
Previous Post

Ketamine use demonstrates promise for treatment-resistant depression

Next Post

Infants with mild neonatal encephalopathy may be at risk for brain injury

RelatedReports

Provision of medically-tailored meals linked with lower admissions and medical spending
Chronic Disease

Time-restricted eating does not confer changes in sleep, mood, or quality of life

July 4, 2025
Biosimilar to infliximab shows equivalent safety and efficacy for treating Crohn’s disease
Chronic Disease

Food compounds associated with disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease 

June 25, 2025
Parental nonmedical prescription opioid use linked to adolescent use
Chronic Disease

Reductions in pain catastrophizing are associated with improvements in emotional functioning

June 22, 2025
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of incident acute myocardial infarction and stroke: findings from matched cohort study of 18 million European adults
Neurology

Early screening for emotional and cognitive issues may improve psychiatric outcomes for stroke patients

June 20, 2025
Next Post
Combined MRI and NIH stroke scores may predict stroke prognosis

Infants with mild neonatal encephalopathy may be at risk for brain injury

Vaccines for predicted influenza strains may provide wide protection [PreClinical]

Early oseltamivir associated with improved influenza outcomes in hospitalized children

#VisualAbstract: Minocycline is not effective at reducing depressive symptoms in treatment-refractory depression

#VisualAbstract: Minocycline is not effective at reducing depressive symptoms in treatment-refractory depression

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Digital health apps may have limited role in reduction of migraine symptoms
  • Living in a marginalized neighbourhood is associated with worse outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction
  • SGLT2 inhibitors may delay cognitive impairment in elderly patients with heart failure
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
No Result
View All Result

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.