A micronutrient supplement modulates homocysteine levels regardless of vitamin B biostatus in elderly subjects

authored by

Marija Savic-Hartwig, Felix Kerlikowsky, Edda van de Flierdt, Andreas Hahn, Jan Philipp Schuchardt

Abstract

Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels (≥15 μmol/L) in the elderly are frequently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Several studies have already shown an Hcy-lowering effect of B vitamin supplementation in cohorts deficient in these nutrients. The aim of this randomized, double-blinded 12-week intervention study was to investigate whether Hcy levels in healthy elderly subjects (75.4±4.5 years, n=133) could be lowered with a micronutrient supplement (i.e., 400 μg folic acid, 100 μg cobalamin). Difference in mean initial Hcy levels between intervention (17.6±7.1 μmol/L, n=65) and placebo group (18.9±6.1 μmol/L, n=68) was not significant. The prevalence of cobalamin and folate deficiency in the total study population was low: 27% had serum-cobalamin levels ≤150 pmol/L, 12% holo-transcobalamin (Holo-TC) levels ≤50 pmol/L, 13% low cobalamin status using the aggregated cobalamin marker 4cB12 and 10% red blood cell (RBC) folate ≤570 nmol/L. Nevertheless, the treated subjects still showed improved cobalamin and folate biostatus (serum cobalamin Δt

12-t

0: 63±48 pmol/L; Holo-TC Δt

12-t

0: 17±19 pmol/L; RBC folate Δt

12-t

0: 326±253 nmol/L) and Hcy levels (Δt

12-t

0: -3.6±5.7 μmol/L). The effects were statistically significant compared to the placebo group with p=0.005 (serum cobalamin), p=0.021 (Holo-TC), p=0.014 (RBC-folate) and p<0.001 (Hcy). The Hcy-lowering effect was dependent on the initial Hcy levels (p<0.001). Our findings suggest that elevated Hcy levels in elderly subjects can be lowered regardless of the initial cobalamin and folate biostatus.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Nutrition Physiology and Human Nutrition Section

Type

Article

Journal

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research

Volume

Pages

120-132

No. of pages

ISSN

0300-9831

Publication date

01.04.2024

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nutrition and Dietetics, Medicine (miscellaneous), Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831/a000777 (Access: Open)