Vitamin requirements for the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in humans.

Abstract

We have previously shown that a modest vitamin supplement containing folic acid, vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-6 is effective in reducing elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations. The effect of supplementation of the individual vitamins on moderate hyperhomocysteinemia has now been investigated in a placebo-controlled study. One hundred men with hyperhomocysteinemia were randomly assigned to five groups and treated with a daily dose of placebo, folic acid (0.65 mg), vitamin B-12 (0.4 mg), vitamin B-6 (10 mg) or a combination of the three vitamins for 6 wk. Folic acid supplementation reduced plasma homocysteine concentrations by 41.7% (P < 0.001), whereas the daily vitamin B-12 supplement lowered homocysteine concentrations by 14.8% (P < 0.01). The daily pyridoxine dose did not reduce significantly plasma homocysteine concentrations. The combination of the three vitamins reduced circulating homocysteine concentrations by 49.8%, which was not significantly different (P = 0.48) from the reduction achieved by folate supplementation alone. Our results indicate that folate deficiency may be an important cause of hyperhomocysteinemia in the general population.

• Authors: J B Ubbink, W J Vermaak, A van der Merwe, P J Becker, R Delport, H C Potgieter
• Journal: The Journal of nutrition (J Nutr) Vol. 124 Issue 10 Pg. 1927-33 (Oct 1994) ISSN: 0022-3166 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7931701 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Homocysteine
• Folic Acid
• Pyridoxine
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Folic Acid (administration & dosage, blood, therapeutic use)
• Homocysteine (blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Placebos
• Pyridoxine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Vitamin B 12 (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)