The New Role Folate Plays in Depression Treatment

Guest Blogger Ayanna Julien

Depression, which is typically characterized by a lack of interest or concentration and feelings of hopelessness, is a serious condition affecting many individuals and their families.

Depression symptoms can be alleviated in a variety of ways.

Although currently there is treatment available for those individuals suffering from depression, in the form of antidepressants, it has shown little to no promise in resolving the issue over the long term. In fact, only 1 in 3 patients experience success with initial therapy of antidepressants, leaving 2 out of 3 patients with unresolved depression consequences such as social functioning, children’s mental well being, physical functioning, risk of suicide, increased mortality and likelihood of relapse; all of which are released by neurotransmitters in the brain. As a result of these unmet needs, researchers began to explore potential depression treatments that would include faster improvement as well as greater and longer efficacy with fewer side effects.

Although it is understood that L-Methylfolate (which is active folate that has been metabolized in the body) is needed in the brain to regulate neurotransmitters associated with mood, i.e. norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, it can be adversely affected by drugs (i.e. oral contraceptives), disease (i.e. diabetes), lifestyle and genetics. In doing so, it is the only form of folate that can cross the blood brain barrier. Furthermore, depression, which is caused by a lack in neurotransmitters, can be neutralized by the creation of new neurotransmitters. Deplin, which is a prescribed medical food composed solely of L-Methylfolate, is a new therapy approach for treating depression by creating more neurotransmitters. When taken in conjunction with antidepressants, which conserve existing neurotransmitters, Deplin has been proven successful in resolving depression over the long term. Through the use of Deplin as an augmentation to antidepressant therapy, patients with depression are in fact showing more promising results than ever before.