High-dose B vitamin supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Blood levels of homocysteine may be increased in Alzheimer disease (AD) and hyperhomocysteinemia may contribute to disease pathophysiology by vascular and direct neurotoxic mechanisms. Even in the absence of vitamin deficiency, homocysteine levels can be reduced by administration of high-dose supplements of folic acid and vitamins B(6) and B(12). Prior studies of B vitamins to reduce homocysteine in AD have not had sufficient size or duration to assess their effect on cognitive decline.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy and safety of B vitamin supplementation in the treatment of AD.


METHODS
A multicenter, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial of high-dose folate, vitamin B(6), and vitamin B(12) supplementation in 409 (of 601 screened) individuals with mild to moderate AD (Mini-Mental State Examination scores between 14 and 26, inclusive) and normal folic acid, vitamin B(12), and homocysteine levels. The study was conducted between February 20, 2003, and December 15, 2006, at clinical research sites of the Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study located throughout the United States.


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups of unequal size to increase enrollment (60% treated with high-dose supplements [5 mg/d of folate, 25 mg/d of vitamin B(6), 1 mg/d of vitamin B(12)] and 40% treated with identical placebo); duration of treatment was 18 months.


METHODS
Change in the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog).


RESULTS
A total of 340 participants (202 in active treatment group and 138 in placebo group) completed the trial while taking study medication. Although the vitamin supplement regimen was effective in reducing homocysteine levels (mean [SD], -2.42 [3.35] in active treatment group vs -0.86 [2.59] in placebo group; P < .001), it had no beneficial effect on the primary cognitive measure, rate of change in ADAS-cog score during 18 months (0.372 points per month for placebo group vs 0.401 points per month for active treatment group, P = .52; 95% confidence interval of rate difference, -0.06 to 0.12; based on the intention-to-treat generalized estimating equations model), or on any secondary measures. A higher quantity of adverse events involving depression was observed in the group treated with vitamin supplements.


CONCLUSIONS
This regimen of high-dose B vitamin supplements does not slow cognitive decline in individuals with mild to moderate AD.


BACKGROUND
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00056225.
Aisen
Paul S
PS
Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, M/C 0949, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. paisen@ucsd.edu
Schneider
Lon S
LS
Sano
Mary
M
Diaz-Arrastia
Ramon
R
van Dyck
Christopher H
CH
Weiner
Myron F
MF
Bottiglieri
Teodoro
T
Jin
Shelia
S
Stokes
Karen T
KT
Thomas
Ronald G
RG
Thal
Leon J
LJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12