Low-dose B vitamins supplementation ameliorates cardiovascular risk: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in healthy Chinese elderly.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We investigated whether daily supplementation with low-dose B vitamins in the healthy elderly population improves the Framingham risk score (FRS), a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.

METHODS:

Between 2007 and 2012, a double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in a rural area of North China. In all, 390 healthy participants aged 60-74 were randomly allocated to receive daily vitamin C (50 mg; control group) or vitamin C plus B vitamins (400 µg folic acid, 2 mg B6, and 10 µg B12; treatment group) for 12 months. FRSs were calculated for all 390 subjects.

RESULTS:

Folate and vitamin B12 plasma concentrations in the treatment group increased by 253 and 80%, respectively, after 6 months, stopped increasing with continued supplementation after 12 months and returned to baseline levels 6 months after supplementation cessation. Compared with the control group, there was no significant effect of B vitamin supplementation on FRSs after 6 months (mean difference -0.38; 95% CI -1.06, 0.31; p = 0.279), whereas a significant effect of supplementation was evident after 12 months (reduced magnitude 7.6%; -0.77; 95% CI -1.47, -0.06; p = 0.033). However, this reduction disappeared 6 months after supplementation stopped (-0.07; 95% CI -0.80, 0.66; p = 0.855). The reduction in FRS 12 months after supplementation was more pronounced in individuals with a folate deficiency (10.4%; -1.30; 95% CI -2.54, -0.07; p = 0.039) than in those without (4.1%; -0.38; 95% CI -1.12, 0.36; p = 0.313). B vitamins increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 3.4% after 6 months (0.04; 95% CI -0.02, 0.10; p = 0.155) and by 9.2% after 12 months (0.11; 95 % CI 0.04, 0.18; p = 0.003). Compared with the control group, this change in magnitude decreased to 3.3% (0.04; 95 % CI -0.02, 0.10; p = 0.194) 6 months after supplementation cessation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Daily supplementation with a low-dose of B vitamins for 12 months reduced FRS, particularly in healthy elderly subjects with a folate deficiency. These reduced effects declined after supplementation cessation, indicating a need for persistent supplementation to maintain the associated benefits.

• Authors: Linlin Wang, Hongtian Li, Yuan Zhou, Lei Jin, Jianmeng Liu
• Journal: European journal of nutrition (Eur J Nutr) Vol. 54 Issue 3 Pg. 455-64 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1436-6215 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 24916013 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Triglycerides
• Homocysteine
• Vitamin B Complex
• Vitamin B 6
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Aged
• Asian People
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Body Mass Index
• Cardiovascular Diseases (prevention & control)
• China
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Dietary Supplements
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Folic Acid (administration & dosage, blood)
• Folic Acid Deficiency (blood, drug therapy)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Homocysteine (blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Risk Factors
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Vitamin B 12 (administration & dosage, blood)
• Vitamin B 6 (administration & dosage, blood)
• Vitamin B Complex (administration & dosage, blood)