title: A pilot study of vitamins to lower plasma homocysteine levels in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Authors determined the impact of high-dose vitamin supplements on plasma homocysteine levels in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Authors used an open-label trial of folic acid, vitamin B(12), and vitamin B(6), in combination for 8 weeks, with measurement of plasma homocysteine levels in the fasting state and after methionine-loading. A total of 69 subjects with AD were enrolled, including 33 who were taking standard multivitamin supplements; 66 were available at 8-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The high-dose vitamin regimen was associated with a significant reduction in fasting and post-methionine-loading homocysteine. Reductions were greater in the subgroup not using multivitamins, but were also significant in the multivitamin users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose vitamin supplementation reduces homocysteine levels in patients with AD. The effect of supplementation on rate of cognitive decline will be assessed later in a randomized, double-blind study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Aisen
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Egelko
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaz-Arrastia
authors.forename: Myron
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeCarli
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jagust
authors.forename: Joshua W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12