04-09-2008
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Elevated plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and thus B vitamins may have a role in the prevention of AD.
The objective of this study was to determine if tHcy lowering vitamins decrease the circulating levels of A-beta protein 1–40 (Aß40).
We randomized 299 older men to treatment with 2 mg of folate, plus 25 mg of B6 and 400 µg of B12, or placebo.
After 2 years of treatment the mean (S.E.) increase of Aß40 was 7.0 pg/ml (8.4) in the vitamin group (4.9%), and 26.8 pg/ml (7.7) (18.5%) in the placebo group.
We conclude that B vitamins may decrease the plasma level of Aß40 and have a role in the prevention of AD.
Source: Neurobiology of Aging, February 2008; vol 29, #2, pp. 303-305, PMID: 17113685, by Flicker L, Martins RN, Thomas J, Acres J, Taddei K, Vasikaran SD, Norman P, Jamrozik K, Almeida OP. School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia; Edith Cowan University; Royal Perth Hospital; University of Queensland, Australia. [E-mail: leonflic@cyllene.uwa.edu.au]
