Effect of multivitamin supplementation on the homocysteine and methylmalonic acid blood concentrations in women over the age of 60 years |
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Authors: | Wolters Maike Hermann Silke Hahn Andreas |
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Institution: | (1) Nutrition Physiology & Human Nutrition Unit, Institute of Food Science Centre of Applied Chemistry University of Hanover, Wunstorfer Str. 14, 30453 Hannover, Germany;(2) Present address: Unilever Health Institute, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Summary
Background
Deficiency
of folic acid, vitamin B6
and/or vitamin B12 can result in elevated
total plasma homocysteine
concentrations (tHcy), which are
considered to be a risk factor for
vascular disease. Studies have
shown that supplementation of the
three vitamins can lower tHcy
even in subjects with tHcy in the
normal range.
Aim of the study
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 6 month supplementation
with vitamin B6, B12 and
folate on the concentrations of total
plasma homocysteine and
serum methylmalonic acid (MMA)
of elderly women.
Methods
The
study was designed as a randomized
placebo controlled doubleblind
trial, and 220 healthy women
(aged 60–91 years) were involved.
The vitamin and mineral capsule
contained pyridoxine (3.4 mg),
folic acid (400 µg) and cobalamin
(9 µg) in addition to other micronutrients.
Blood concentrations
of folate, cobalamin, tHcy, MMA
and the activity coefficient of erythrocyte
alpha-aspartic aminotransferase
(alpha-EAST) were
measured at baseline and after 6
months of supplementation. Dietary
intake was evaluated at the
beginning and the end of the intervention
by two 3–day diet
records.
Results
Median concentrations
of serum cobalamin, serum
folate and erythrocyte folate increased
significantly and tHcy and
alpha–EAST activity (indicative of
improved status of vitamin B6) coefficient
decreased significantly in
the supplemented group. Median
MMA concentration of the supplemented
group was significantly
lower than that of the placebo
group after the intervention. The
vitamin supplementation had a
greater decreasing effect on the
tHcy concentration of volunteers
with lower vitamin and higher
tHcy initial concentrations. In a
linear regression model, baseline
tHcy, serum folate, age and alpha–EAST activity coefficient were significantly
correlated with the
change in tHcy. The change in
MMA in the supplement group
was significantly associated to the
baseline MMA values.
Conclusions
Our results show that a 6 month
supplementation including physiological
dosages of B vitamins improves
the status of these nutrients
and reduces tHcy in presumed
healthy elderly women. |
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Keywords: | elderly women vitamins folate vitamin B6 vitamin B12 pyridoxine cobalamin homocysteine methylmalonic acid |
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