Changes in markers of cobalamin status after cessation of oral B-vitamin supplements in elderly people with mild cobalamin deficiency.
Mildly cobalamin-deficient elderly were supplemented with 1000 microg cobalamin (group C, n=34), 1000 microg cobalamin with 400 microg folic acid (group CF, n=31) or a placebo (n=30) for 6 months. Participants provided one single blood sample 3, 5 or 7 months after cessation of supplementation to monitor early changes in plasma concentrations of cobalamin, holotranscobalamin (holoTC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA). At the end of supplementation (groups C+CF), one participant met our criteria for mild cobalamin deficiency, as did 13, 14 and 43% of the participants assessed at respectively 3, 5 and 7 months post-supplementation. Cobalamin and holoTC declined on average with 47 and 56% relative to concentrations at the end of supplementation for the group assessed at 7 months post-supplementation. Essentially similar declines were observed for those participants assessed at 3 and 5 months post-supplementation. Mean MMA concentrations increased by 15% (P=0.07) in those participants assessed at 3 and 5 months post-supplementation, and increased by 50% (P=0.002) in those participants assessed at 7 months post-supplementation. Considering MMA as a sensitive tissue marker for cobalamin status, oral supplementation may afford adequate cobalamin status for a period of up to 5 months after cessation in the majority of participants.
Eussen
S J P M
SJ
Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Simone.Eussen@farm.uib.no
Ueland
P M
PM
Hiddink
G J
GJ
Schneede
J
J
Blom
H J
HJ
Hoefnagels
W H L
WH
van Staveren
W A
WA
de Groot
L C P G M
LC
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001682:Biological Availability; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12