Effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on biomarkers of endothelial function and inflammation among elderly individuals with hyperhomocysteinemia

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).

B-vitamins may influence early vascular dysfunction, such as endothelial dysfunction, or may have adverse effects, for example on inflammation.

The researchers investigated the effect of B-vitamins on endothelial function and inflammation within an interventional study.

Who Took Part

The study group was 2919 individuals.

The age groups tagged for this paper are older adults and people over 80, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

The individuals were allocated by chance, so the Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

As a double-blind Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

Some individuals received a placebo instead of Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), giving a reference point.

The methods mention a period of 2 years.

What Was Measured

Using an electrochemiluminescence platform, the researchers measured intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), serum amyloid A (SAA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) at baseline and follow-up in a subsample of 522 participants (271 intervention group; 251 placebo).

The subject headings attached to it are Age Factors, Analysis of Variance, Biomarkers, Dietary Supplements, Drug Combinations, Endothelium, Vascular and Folic Acid.

Author keywords: B-PROOF, B-vitamins, endothelial function, homocysteine and inflammation.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) in 2919 individuals over 2 years.

With several hundred people or more, it is a fairly large study for this kind of research.

The publication is from 2016 (Vascular medicine (London, England)), a journal based in England.

More context: the Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) compound page, all human trials.