Riboflavin supplementation and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
High levels of total plasma homocysteine are potentially harmful in the elderly.


OBJECTIVE
To investigated the effects of oral riboflavin supplementation on plasma total homocysteine, ferritin, uric acid and C-reactive protein concentration in elderly people with a low riboflavin status. We performed a four-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of riboflavin supplementation in seven Portuguese day social centers.


METHODS
Eighty-eight individuals (66.7% female), aged between 60 and 94 years, volunteered to participate in the study following interview. Forty-two subjects, with an erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRAC) >or= 1.2, were included in the intervention trial. All subjects gave informed consent. Study subjects were administered 10 mg riboflavin (n=21) or placebo (n=21) each day for 28 days.


RESULTS
Riboflavin supplementation significantly decreased plasma tHcy (P=0.005) and EGRAC (P=0.014), but not plasma ferritin, uric acid or C-reactive protein.


CONCLUSIONS
In this elderly group, we found that 10 mg/day oral riboflavin supplementation lowered plasma homocysteine concentrations in subjects with low riboflavin status.
Tavares
N R
NR
Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Moreira
P A
PA
Amaral
T F
TF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011174:Portugal; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014527:Uric Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D012256:Riboflavin