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Effects of two-year vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on depressive symptoms and quality of life in older adults with elevated homocysteine concentrations: additional results from the B-Proof study, an RCT

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posted on 2023-06-09, 11:32 authored by Elisa de Koning, Nikita van der Zwaluw, Janneke van Wijngaarden, Evelien Sohl, Elske Brouwer-Brolsma, Harm van MarwijkHarm van Marwijk, Anke Enneman, Karin Swart, Suzanne van Dijk, Annelies Ham, Nathalie van der Velde, André Uitterlinden, Brenda Penninx, Petra Elders, Paul Lips, Rosalie Dhonukshe-Rutten, Natasja van Schoor, Lisette de Groot
Lowering elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations by supplementing vitamin B12 and folic acid may reduce depressive symptoms and improve health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in older adults. This study aimed to test this hypothesis in a randomized controlled trial. Participants (N = 2919, =65 years, Hcy concentrations =12 µmol/L) received either 500 µg vitamin B12 and 400 µg folic acid daily or placebo for two years. Both tablets contained 15 µg vitamin D3. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15). HR-QoL was assessed with the SF-12 Mental and Physical component summary scores and the EQ-5D Index score and Visual Analogue Scale. Differences in two-year change scores were analyzed with Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Hcy concentrations decreased more in the intervention group, but two-year change scores of the GDS-15 and three of four HR-QoL measures did not differ between groups. The EQ-5D Index score declined less in the intervention group than in the placebo group (mean change 0.00 vs. -0.02, p = 0.004). In conclusion, two-year supplementation with vitamin B12 and folic acid in older adults with hyperhomocysteinemia showed that lowering Hcy concentrations does not reduce depressive symptoms, but it may have a small positive effect on HR-QoL.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Nutrients

ISSN

2072-6643

Publisher

MDPI

Issue

11

Volume

8

Page range

748

Department affiliated with

  • Primary Care and Public Health Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-01-11

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-01-11

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-01-11

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