Japanese scientists suggest that a deficiency in vitamin B12 and folic acid may be a cause of chronic fatigue and low motivation, even in clinically healthy individuals.
Professor Hiroaki Kanouchi of Osaka University explained that the study's findings indicate the importance of addressing the problems of fatigue and low motivation in the future, stressing the need to prevent high homocysteine levels by avoiding deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folic acid (vitamin B9), in addition to following a balanced diet daily.
According to ScienceDaily, the study involved approximately 600 healthy Japanese adults. Researchers measured blood levels of homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B12, then assessed fatigue and motivation using the Childer Fatigue Scale and an analog visual scale. Homocysteine is a substance whose concentration in the blood increases when vitamin B12 and folic acid levels are deficient.
The results showed that participants with elevated homocysteine levels also had lower levels of both vitamins, regardless of gender. A detailed analysis revealed that men with high homocysteine levels were more prone to physical exhaustion, while women showed a greater decrease in motivation. Factors such as age, sleep duration, workload, and dietary habits were taken into account.
The researchers pointed out that chronic fatigue is becoming an increasingly common complaint with increasing work pressures and fewer rest periods, explaining that fatigue is not only related to stress or lack of sleep, but that an unbalanced diet also plays an important role.
This link between vitamin B12, folic acid and fatigue in healthy individuals is a relatively new finding, as elevated homocysteine has traditionally been associated with cardiovascular disease risks, dementia and fractures.
