Back to Search
Start Over
Effect of physiological doses of oral vitamin B12 on plasma homocysteine: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in India.
- Source :
-
European journal of clinical nutrition [Eur J Clin Nutr] 2010 May; Vol. 64 (5), pp. 495-502. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Mar 10. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Background/objectives: Vitamin B(12) (B(12)) deficiency is common in Indians and a major contributor to hyperhomocysteinemia, which may influence fetal growth, risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of physiological doses of B(12) and folic acid on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration.<br />Subjects/methods: A cluster randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2 x 3 factorial trial, using the family as the randomization unit. B(12) was given as 2 or 10 microg capsules, with or without 200 microg folic acid, forming six groups (B(0)F(0), B(2)F(0), B(10)F(0), B(0)F(200), B(2)F(200) and B(10)F(200)). Plasma tHcy concentration was measured before and after 4 and 12 months of supplementation.<br />Results: From 119 families in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study, 300 individuals were randomized. There was no interaction between B(12) and folic acid (P=0.14) in relation to tHcy concentration change and their effects were analyzed separately: B(0) vs. B(2) vs. B(10); and F(0) vs. F(200). At 12 months, tHcy concentration reduced by a mean 5.9 (95% CI: -7.8, -4.1) micromol/l in B(2), and by 7.1 (95% CI: -8.9, -5.4) micromol/l in B(10), compared to nonsignificant rise of 1.2 (95% CI: -0.5, 2.9) micromol/l in B(0). B(2) and B(10) did not differ significantly. In F(200), tHcy concentration decreased by 4.8 (95% CI: -6.3, -3.3) micromol/l compared to 2.8 (95% CI: -4.3, -1.2) micromol/l in F(0).<br />Conclusion: Daily oral supplementation with physiological doses of B(12) is an effective community intervention to reduce tHcy. Folic acid (200 microg per day) showed no additional benefit, neither had any unfavorable effects.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Child
Double-Blind Method
Family
Female
Folic Acid pharmacology
Humans
Hyperhomocysteinemia blood
Hyperhomocysteinemia etiology
India
Male
Vitamin B 12 pharmacology
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency blood
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency complications
Vitamin B Complex pharmacology
Dietary Supplements
Folic Acid therapeutic use
Homocysteine blood
Hyperhomocysteinemia drug therapy
Vitamin B 12 therapeutic use
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency drug therapy
Vitamin B Complex therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-5640
- Volume :
- 64
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European journal of clinical nutrition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20216560
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.15