Relationship between serum homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels and cognitive function in patients with drug-naive obsessive-compulsive disorder

The study aimed to investigate the correlation between Homocysteine (HCY), folate and vitamin B12 (VB12) levels and cognitive function in patients with drug-naive obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Fifty patients with drug-naive OCD and 50 matched healthy controls recruited were enrolled. Subjects were cognitively assessed using The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) scales. Serum HCY, floate, and vitamin B12 levels were collected.There was impairment in memory, attention in drug-naive OCD patients compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in HCY and folate levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). SPSS mediated effects model 4 analyses showed that HCY levels mediated the relationship between Y-BCOS scores and verbal learning ability (median effect value: -0.43, 95% CI [-0.58 similar to -0.28]). Folate levels also mediated the relationship between Y-BOCS scores and verbal learning ability (median effect value: -0.11,95% CI: [-0.21 similar to-0.03]). HCY levels were positively correlated with symptom severity and verbal learning ability, speed of information processing, and impaired emotion management in patients with drug-naive OCD, and folate levels may be protective against cognitive changes in patients with drug-naive OCD. OCD symptom severity together with HCY and folate levels affect cognitive function.