The study, conducted by scientists at the American University of Chicago, and whose results were published in the journal “Gamma Psychiatry”, examined data on 800,000 Americans who received prescriptions that include folic acid between 2012 and 2017.
The researchers found that taking folic acid with a prescription reduced the risk of self-harm or suicide by 44 percent.
There were just under five incidents of attempted suicide and self-harm per 100,000 people each month, compared with a rate of just over 10 per 100,000 people during the months when they weren’t using folic acid.
When the researchers weighed other factors such as age, gender, and history of mental health assessments, folic acid use was still associated with a 44 percent lower risk of attempted suicide and self-harm.
“To prove that folic acid has a direct effect on suicidal behavior, a large clinical trial would be required,” said lead researcher Robert Gibbons, a professor at the University of Chicago.
Gibbons added: “Our findings do not prove that folic acid in itself reduces the risk of suicide,” according to the UPI news agency.
He continued, “Folic acid is inexpensive, widely available and has no side effects. If this relationship is confirmed to be causal, then we should consider all lives that could be saved.”
Previous research has linked low levels of folate in the blood to depression.
When evaluating depression patients, some mental health professionals order blood tests to measure the level of folic acid, as well as vitamins “D” and “B12”, as deficiency of these nutrients has been linked to symptoms of depression as well.
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