Association of Vitamin B12 with Depression after Lacunar Stroke

OBJECTIVE To explore the association of serum vitamin B12 with depression after lacunar stroke. METHODS Between June 2009 and June 2012, 829 patients with lacunar stroke, according to Hamilton depression scale score, were divided into two groups: group with depression and group without depression. The concentration of serum vitamin B12 and the ratio of vitamin B12 deficiency were compared. The relationship between Hamilton depression scale score and the concentration of serum vitamin B12 in the group with depression was analyzed by the curve-fitting method. RESULTS The group without depression contained 750 cases and the mean concentration of serum vitamin B12 of this group was (172.5±20.4)pmol·L^-1. There were 212 cases in the group without depression which were considered as vitamin B12 deficiency. The group with depression contained 79 cases and the mean concentration of serum vitamin B12 of this group was (139.1±18.2)pmol·L^-1. There were 53 cases in the group with depression which were considered as vitamin B12 deficiency. There were significant differences in the concentration of serum vitamin B12 and the ratio of vitamin B12 deficiency(P<0.000 1). Inverse curve reflected the relationship between Hamilton depression scale score and the concentration of serum vitamin B12 in the group with depression. CONCLUSION Depression after lacunar stroke is related to vitamin B12 deficiency.