Presenter Classification
Graduate Student
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Publication Date
4-22-2026
Start Date
22-4-2026 2:30 PM
End Date
22-4-2026 3:00 PM
Keywords
depression, treatment, l-methylfolate
Abstract Type
Scientific Literature Review
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction & Background: Depressive disorders have many different causes. Folate deficiency can sometimes be behind these disorders, due to this vitamin’s role in neurotransmitter synthesis. Some research suggests that supplementing with an active form of folate improves depressive symptoms with and without antidepressant use. Purpose Statement Question: For individuals with depressive disorders, does supplementation with L-methylfolate (LMF) reduce symptoms of depressive disorders with or without use of an antidepressant? Literature Review: A manual literature search for sources published within the past 7 years revealed 557 documents from four different databases. Key search words included, “depression,” “treatment,” and “l-methylfolate.” Non-English, unavailable (or abstract only), secondary, and unrelated sources faced exclusion. Findings: Preliminary findings suggest that supplementation with L-methyfolate in conjunction with antidepressant use and as a monotherapy leads to improvement in symptoms for those with depression. Conclusions: Further research on a large scale within diverse populations would highlight the benefits of this intervention. Nurse practitioners should do their own research into current recommendations for monotherapy and adjunctive nutraceutical treatments.
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons
Treating Depression with L-Methylfolate: A Review of Evidence
Abstract
Introduction & Background: Depressive disorders have many different causes. Folate deficiency can sometimes be behind these disorders, due to this vitamin’s role in neurotransmitter synthesis. Some research suggests that supplementing with an active form of folate improves depressive symptoms with and without antidepressant use. Purpose Statement Question: For individuals with depressive disorders, does supplementation with L-methylfolate (LMF) reduce symptoms of depressive disorders with or without use of an antidepressant? Literature Review: A manual literature search for sources published within the past 7 years revealed 557 documents from four different databases. Key search words included, “depression,” “treatment,” and “l-methylfolate.” Non-English, unavailable (or abstract only), secondary, and unrelated sources faced exclusion. Findings: Preliminary findings suggest that supplementation with L-methyfolate in conjunction with antidepressant use and as a monotherapy leads to improvement in symptoms for those with depression. Conclusions: Further research on a large scale within diverse populations would highlight the benefits of this intervention. Nurse practitioners should do their own research into current recommendations for monotherapy and adjunctive nutraceutical treatments.
