Vitamins linked to metabolic, mental health outcomes in Asian women

Vitamin concentrations indicative of adequate nutrient intake appear to have a potential role in metabolic regulation and mental wellbeing in Asian women, according to local research.

In a cohort of women who participated in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study, high plasma levels of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B9, B12) and vitamin D were associated with favourable metabolic health outcomes. These included lower fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR; increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; and reduced metabolic syndrome (MetS) scores. [Sci Rep 2026;16:8248]

On the other hand, higher concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, K) were associated with an unfavourable metabolic profile.

These associations were more pronounced among women with a BMI of ≥23 kg/m², suggesting that adiposity may modify the relationship between B vitamins and lipid-soluble vitamins and metabolic outcomes, according to the authors.

For the other vitamins studied, higher folate levels were associated with lower depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Higher vitamin B1 concentrations were linked to better grip strength.

“Taken together, the findings indicate that plasma vitamins may play a role in metabolic and mental health in Asian women,” the authors noted.

The present data may help inform interventions for personalized balanced nutrition and appropriate supplementation in this population, they added. Such interventions are important to reduce the risk of morbidity and related risk of chronic diseases due to insufficiency or deficiency in vitamins, especially as women approach menopausal transition and start to experience hormonal changes.

A total of 662 women from the three major ethnic groups in Singapore were included in the analysis. The mean age was 39.8 years. Most of the women (58.7 percent) were Chinese, 24.4 percent were Malay, and 16.9 percent were Indian.

The mean BMI was 25.4 kg/m², with 60.6 percent of the women having a BMI ≥23 kg/m². Compared with those who had lower BMI, women with high BMI had a less favourable metabolic profile but similar mental wellbeing scores.

Of the women, around 30 percent had folate deficiency, 15.3 percent had vitamin B12 deficiency or insufficiency, and 48.7 percent had either vitamin D deficiency or severe deficiency. Women with high vs low BMI were more likely to have insufficiency and/or deficiency of vitamin B12, folate, or vitamin D.

“The strengths of the study include a relatively large cohort of Asian women where multiple vitamin concentrations were measured in plasma by accurate methods, and assessment of important metabolic risk markers and measures of mental health, as well as handgrip strength,” the authors noted. 

They also acknowledged that the observed associations do not confirm that vitamin levels directly influence metabolic or mental health outcomes.

“While vitamin levels are indicative of nutrition and dietary habits, the observed associations with health outcomes may, in part, reflect the influence of overall diet and nutrition rather than a direct effect of the vitamins themselves. Therefore, caution is warranted when interpreting these findings,” they said.

The authors highlighted a need for randomized controlled trials on vitamin supplementation to confirm their effect on metabolic outcomes in Asian women.