Holo-transcobalamin is an early marker of changes in cobalamin homeostasis. A randomized placebo-controlled study.
BACKGROUND
We examined the effect of oral vitamin B(12) treatment on fluctuations in plasma total cobalamin and its binding proteins transcobalamin (TC) and haptocorrin (HC).


METHODS
Patients (n = 88; age range, 38-80 years) undergoing coronary angiography (part of the homocysteine-lowering Western Norway B-Vitamin Intervention Trial) were allocated to daily oral treatment with (a) vitamin B(12) (0.4 mg), folic acid (0.8 mg), and vitamin B(6) (40 mg); (b) vitamin B(12) and folic acid; (c) vitamin B(6); or (d) placebo. EDTA blood was obtained before treatment and 3, 14, 28, and 84 days thereafter.


RESULTS
The intraindividual variation for patients not treated with B(12) was approximately 10% for plasma total cobalamin, total TC, apo-TC, and apo-HC, and <20% for holo-TC and TC saturation. In B(12)-treated patients, the maximum change in concentrations was observed already after 3 days for total TC (-16%), holo-TC (+54%), and TC saturation (+82%). At this time holo-HC (+20%) and plasma total cobalamin (+28%) showed an initial burst, but had increased further at 84 days. All changes were highly significant compared with the control group (P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral vitamin B(12) treatment produces maximal effects on total TC, holo-TC, and TC saturation within 3 days, whereas maximal increases in holo-HC and plasma total cobalamin occur later. The results support the view that holo-TC is an early marker of changes in cobalamin homeostasis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014155:Transcobalamins / Q000032:analysis; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014155:Transcobalamins; D014805:Vitamin B 12