title: Vitamin B-12 treatment has limited effect on health-related quality of life among individuals with elevated plasma methylmalonic acid: a randomized placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the hypothesis that treatment with vitamin B-12 improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with biochemical signs of vitamin B-12 deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized placebo-controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonhospitalized individuals (n = 140) with a modest increase in plasma methylmalonic acid (0.40-2.00 micromol L-1) not previously treated with vitamin B-12.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were randomized to vitamin B-12 injection treatment or placebo weekly for 4 weeks and re-examined 3 months later. The investigator and the participants were blinded to the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in HRQOL assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire from baseline to follow-up examination 3 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants reported a significantly worser HRQOL than the age- and sex-matched Danish general population (P < 0.001). However, no change was observed after treatment with vitamin B-12 for seven of eight health dimensions. A significant improvement was found only in general health when compared with the placebo group (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin B-12 treatment influenced only one of eight dimensions of HRQOL amongst participants with biochemical signs of vitamin B-12 deficiency. We therefore question the benefit of vitamin B-12 treatment amongst elderly with a modestly increased plasma methylmalonic acid as the only sign of vitamin B-12 deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, AAS, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Kommunehospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. am.hvas@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hvas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nexø
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellegaard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12