Oral 5'-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in senile organic mental disorders with depression: results of a double-blind multicenter study.

Abstract

5'-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5'-MTHF) in addition to standard psychotropic medication significantly improved clinical recovery in depressed patients with borderline or definite folate deficiency, and significantly reduced depressive symptoms in elderly normofolatemic patients after 3 weeks of treatment. In this equivalence study the effect of 5'-MTHF on depressive symptoms and cognitive status was compared to Trazodone (TRZ) in normofolatemic elderly patients with mild to moderate dementia and depression. Ninety-six patients with dementia, scoring 12-23 at the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and > or = 18 at the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) after a 2-week placebo run-in, were randomized to receive either 5'-MTHF (50 mg/day p.o.) (47 patients) or TRZ (100 mg/day p.o.) (49 patients) in a double-blind design for 8 weeks. HDRS was assessed before, after 4 weeks and at the end of treatment; Rey's Verbal Memory (RVM) test for immediate and delayed recall was evaluated before and after treatment. After 4 weeks of treatment HDRS score was reduced from 23 +/- 5 to 20 +/- 6 in the 5'-MTHF (p < 0.05 vs baseline), and from 23 +/- 3 to 21 +/- 4 in the TRZ group (p < 0.05 vs baseline). A further significant decrease to 18 +/- 6 and 19 +/- 5 respectively was obtained at the end of the treatment period (p < 0.05 vs week 4) with 5'-MTHF and TRZ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: M Passeri, D Cucinotta, G Abate, U Senin, A Ventura, M Stramba Badiale, R Diana, P La Greca, C Le Grazie
• Journal: Aging (Milan, Italy) (Aging (Milano)) Vol. 5 Issue 1 Pg. 63-71 (Feb 1993) ISSN: 0394-9532 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 8257478 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Tetrahydrofolates
• 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
• Trazodone

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Dementia, Multi-Infarct (drug therapy)
• Depression (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Tetrahydrofolates (therapeutic use)
• Trazodone (therapeutic use)