P03-51 - Folate and Vitamin B12 Serum Levels in First Psychotic Episode in Mental Health Center

Abstract

Low folate and vitamin B12 serum levels are associated with schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders.

Objectives

Determinate folate and vitamin B12 serum levels in a sample of naive psychotic patients and in a sample of healthy population.

Methods

For 24 patients with a first psychotic episode serum folate an vitamin B12 were measured, and we take a sample of 30 person from healthy population adjust with age and gender for comparing both groups.

Results

In the sample of psychotic patients 15 patients (62,5%)presents low levels of folate, and 2 (8,3%) vitamin B12 deficiency. In the group with low levels of folate the mean was 1,5 ng/ml, and in the group with low levels of vitamin B12 the mean was 155 pg/ml. In healthy sample, 9 persons presents low levels of folate and there weren’t any vitamin B12 deficiency in this group. We compared the mean of folate levels in both samples and there was a significance difference between them.

Conclusions

Important percentage of patients with a first psychotic episode presents a folate deficiency, in our area, with lower levels of this vitamin than in the healthy population, so maybe is a factor that influence in development of the disorder.