A pilot study of vitamins to lower plasma homocysteine levels in Alzheimer disease.
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.
Aisen
Paul S
PS
Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
Egelko
Susan
S
Andrews
Howard
H
Diaz-Arrastia
Ramon
R
Weiner
Myron
M
DeCarli
Charles
C
Jagust
William
W
Miller
Joshua W
JW
Green
Ralph
R
Bell
Karen
K
Sano
Mary
M
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*
D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12