Reduces symptoms by 50 percent

A vitamin to lower the risk of birth defects may also be an effective treatment for depression. A study shows that men with high levels of folate in their diet were 50 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression.

Now a clinical trial is under way in Britain to study if giving folate can help tackle the condition by boosting the effects of drug treatment.

Folate, one of the B vitamins, is found naturally in some foods, including leafy vegetables, beans, citrus fruits and wholegrains. As a supplement, folic acid – the synthetic form of the vitamin – has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of birth defects. The vitamin is involved in the process of making healthy new cells.

One in five people will suffer from depression at one point of their lives, but scientists say only half of those treated with antidepressants will get better; and many others experience symptoms for long periods. Now, researchers have found that the more folate in the diet, the less severe the symptoms of depression.