TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of two-year vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on depressive symptoms and quality of life in older adults with elevated homocysteine concentrations
T2 - Additional results from the B-Proof study, an RCT
AU - de Koning, Elisa J.
AU - van der Zwaluw, Nikita L.
AU - van Wijngaarden, Janneke P.
AU - Sohl, Evelien
AU - Brouwer-Brolsma, Elske M.
AU - van Marwijk, Harm W J
AU - Enneman, Anke W.
AU - Swart, Karin M A
AU - van Dijk, Suzanne C.
AU - Ham, Annelies C.
AU - van der Velde, Nathalie
AU - Uitterlinden, André G.
AU - Penninx, Brenda W J H
AU - Elders, Petra J M
AU - Lips, Paul
AU - Dhonukshe-Rutten, Rosalie A M
AU - van Schoor, Natasja M.
AU - de Groot, Lisette C P G M
PY - 2016/11/23
Y1 - 2016/11/23
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Depressive symptoms
KW - Folic acid
KW - Homocysteine
KW - Hyperhomocysteinemia
KW - Older adults
KW - Quality of life
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Vitamin B
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84996483832&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu8110748
DO - 10.3390/nu8110748
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84996483832
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 8
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 11
M1 - 748
ER -