Randomized trial of homocysteine lowering treatment of depression in later life (B-VITAge Project)
Funding Source: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)
Aims
The primary aim of the study is to determine whether treatment with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid reduces the severity of depressive symptoms in older people with a depressive episode treated with the antidepressant citalopram for 12 weeks. More specifically, the study aims to test the following hypotheses: (1) Older adults with a depressive episode who are randomly allocated to treatment with citalopram plus vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, will be more likely to show a clinically significant decline in the severity of depressive symptoms after 12 weeks than those receiving placebo; (2) Older adults with a depressive episode who are randombly allocated to 12-month treatment with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, will be less likely to meet criteria for diagnosis of a depressive disorder after 6 and 12 months than those treated with placebo.
Background
Depression is common in later life, affecting 1 in 10 people over the age of 60 years. About 50-60% of older people with depression respond well to treatment with antidepressant medications (such as Prozac, Cipramil and Efexor), but a large proportion of older adults with depression will improve only partly or not at all with standard treatment. We have recently shown that people with high blood levels of a chemical known as 'homocysteine' have greater chance of being depressed after the age of 60 years. The use of vitamins B12, B6 and folic acid reduces the concentration of homocysteine in the blood by about 10-15%, and we expect that such changes could contribute to further improve response to the treatment of depression.
Chief Investigators
Associate Investigators
B-VITAge
The purpose of this randomized control clinical trial is to determine whether treatment with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid reduces the severity of depressive symptoms in older people with a depressive episode, treated with the antidepressant citalopram for 12 weeks.
Volunteer details: Anyone over the age of 50 years of age who have been feeling down, depressed, or as if they have lost interest and are willing to participate in the study please call Cheryl Ackoy at 9224 2855 to register your interest.
