WINK News
12,200,000 Americans have had suicidal thoughts in recent years, and of that group, 1,200,000 attempted suicided, and rates have risen 30% since the year 2000.
However, recent research found that prescription Folic Acid reduced suicide thoughts by 44% in patients.
Research form the University of Chicago examined Folic Acid treatment from over 800,000 Americans, and their suicidal behavior over two years.
WINK News spoke about the treatment with associate professor in genetic medicine, biomedical informatics in psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Douglas Ruderfer.
“What we found is that there actually is independent genetic risk that is contributing directly to suicide attempt, that is not simply through the risk of psychiatric disorders,” Dr. Ruderfer said.
Patients taking Folic Acid encountered a 44% reduction in suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors.
“That is independent of psychiatric conditions which often present with suicide attempt but is biologically correlated with other non-psychiatric risk factors,” Dr. Ruderfer said.
While many individuals who consider suicide have underlying psychiatric illnesses, there are also genetic risks for attempting suicide and that genetic risk can lead directly to a suicide attempt without existing psychiatric illness. Experts reported that sleep disorders, smoking, and other harmful behaviors also contributed to suicide.
Experts said Folic Acid is an affordable supplement accessible without a prescription. The vitamin Folate B can also be consumed by eating foods with fortafolite acid, such as nuts, peas, and fruit juices.
WINK News