title: Lowered Levels of Carbonyl Proteins after Vitamin B Supplementation in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The critical role of neuro-inflammation and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become evident.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the influence of vitamin supplementation on parameters of oxidative stress, inflammation as well as on cognition in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, patients with cognitive impairment and healthy controls were enrolled. All patients were intended to receive vitamin supplementation (vitamin B1, B6, B12 and folic acid) for 3 months. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and laboratory markers [carbonyl proteins (CPs), malondialdehyde, tryptophan (Trp), kynurenine (Kyn), neopterin, folic acid, vitamin B12 level] were assessed for patients and controls at baseline and after 3 months. After half of the patients had been treated for 3 months, analyses were performed resulting in 3 subgroups: healthy controls without supplementation (15 subjects, 11 females), patients with vitamin supplementation (17 subjects, 10 females) and patients without vitamin supplementation (16 subjects, 9 females; baseline values prior to supplementation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age was significantly higher for the supplemented group (76.4 ± 6.7 years) compared to vitamin-naïve patients (63.3 ± 13.7 years; p < 0.01). The MMSE score was higher in the supplemented group (23.1 ± 4.8 vs. 20.3 ± 9.5) but did not reach significance. Levels of CPs were significantly higher in the vitamin-naïve patients (p < 0.05). Levels of Kyn and the Kyn/Trp ratio were significantly lower in vitamin-naïve patients compared to the supplemented group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was seen for the other markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin supplementation leads to reduced levels of CPs in patients. Pearson's correlation coefficient shows a negative relation (r = -0.69) between CPs and MMSE. Future trials should assess whether CPs might be suitable markers for monitoring of demented patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Paulus S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rommer
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leblhuber
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schroth
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greilberger
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tafeit
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greilberger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D007737:Kynurenine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D014364:Tryptophan; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D013831:Thiamine