VITAMIN B INTAKE IN OLDER MEN
Cardiovascular disease is very prevalent in both men and women and ranks in the top five causes of death. Nutritional supplements combined with diet and lifestyle modification can significantly decrease ones risk for developing cardiovascular disease as well as decrease fatal cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke.
Scientists have identified several independent markers for risk of developing cardiovascular disease; one of the most recognized is homocysteine. Homocysteine can accumulate in the blood or serum of individuals who have low intake of Vitamin B 12, B6, and folate.
In previous studies total homocysteine can be lowered by taking B vitamins, however many studies were carried out in young or middle aged individuals. Elderly may be at increased risk for a deficiency in one of the B vitamins due to poor absorption in the GI tract. It is not well documented if supplementation can lower homocysteine in the elderly.
Researchers in Australia published the results of a trial measuring the effect that additional B vitamin supplementation has on the total homocysteine in the blood of men greater than 75 years of age. The participants were given daily dose of 2 mg folate, 25 mg of B6, and 400 mg B12, or placebo for 2 years.
Baseline B vitamin status and total homocysteine were measured and compared to values after the 2-year treatment period. At baseline a total of 13% of the participants had a B12 deficiency. The level of B12 increased more than 3 times in these individuals compared to those who were not deficient. The 20% of participants with the greatest level of total homocysteine also had the greatest change in B vitamin levels and homocysteine after the end of the study.
They concluded that older men might be more at risk for a B vitamin deficiency. B12 was the most deficient of the B vitamins. The greatest benefit for decreasing cardiovascular risk via lowering total homocysteine was observed in those men with the lowest B vitamin status.
