Déficit de Vitamina B12 na prática psiquiátrica

Abstract

Levels of vitamin B12 are commonly requested in psychiatric patients, specifically in units for acute patients. Despite the abundant literature available about the correlation between this hypovitaminosis and neuro-psychiatric symptoms, there are still many doubts about the risk groups that should be screened, the tests that should be applied, how to treat, and the real usefulness of vi­tamin supplementation in the resolution of affective, cognitive or psychotic symptoms. This article presents a narrative review of the available literature, and sum­marizes the main recommendations about theoretical and practical questions concerning this subject mat­ter, with emphasis on the correlation between low levels of vitamin B12 and cognitive impairment, de­pression and psychotic disorders.