Scientists have established a link between B12 and folate deficiency and chronic fatigue
- Новости
- Health
- Scientists have established a link between B12 and folate deficiency and chronic fatigue
Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may be a hidden cause of chronic fatigue and decreased motivation, even in clinically healthy people. This is the conclusion reached by Japanese scientists led by Professor Hiroaki Kanouchi from Osaka Prefectural University. This was reported on May 28 in the journal Science Daily.
Chronic fatigue is becoming an increasingly common complaint amid increasing workloads and reduced rest time. It is traditionally associated with stress and lack of sleep, but scientists point out that an unbalanced diet plays an equally important role in this.
The alleged link between vitamin B12, folate, and fatigue in healthy people appears to be the first report of its kind. The level of homocysteine in the blood has traditionally raised concerns about cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and fractures.
Professor Hiroaki Kanouchi
Our data suggest that in the future, attention should also be paid to fatigue and motivation. To prevent an increase in homocysteine, it is important to avoid vitamin B12 and folate deficiency and maintain a balanced diet daily.
About 600 healthy Japanese adults participated in the study. The researchers measured blood levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12, and then assessed participants' fatigue and motivation using the Chalder Fatigue Scale and a visual analog scale. Homocysteine is a substance whose concentration in the blood increases with a lack of vitamin B12 and folate.
The researchers found that participants with higher homocysteine levels had lower levels of both vitamins, regardless of gender. A more detailed analysis by gender revealed that men with elevated homocysteine were more likely to experience physical fatigue, while women had decreased motivation. The calculations took into account the age, sleep duration, workload and eating habits of the participants.
Clinical psychologist Daria Salnikova warned on May 26 about the serious health consequences of chronic stress. The specialist noted that prolonged stress is one of the main causes of panic attacks and other mental and physiological problems.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
