VitaminB12 deficiency in itself often causes disorientation and confusion and thusmimics Vitamin B12 and HomocysteineGrain
fortification with vitamin B12?DUBLIN, IRELAND. Importance of both folic acid and vitamin B12 in reductionof risk of vascular disease. High blood levels of the amino acidhomocysteine have been associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Homocysteineis formed in the body from methionine (an amino acid found in proteins) in aprocess that can be blocked by folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12. The study involved two men and fourteen women between the ages of 41 and55 years. The participants were then given 5 mg of folic acid, 100 mg ofvitamin B6, and 0.5 mg of vitamin B12 daily for five weeks. All patientsreceiving folic acid also received 12.5 mg of vitamin B6 per day and 500
micrograms of vitamin B12. After 90 days the plasma homocysteine levels haddropped from 13.8 to 9.6 micromol/L in the 400 micrograms/day folic acid group,from 13.0 to 9.8 micromol/L in the 1 mg/day group, and from 14.8 to 9.7micromol/L in the 5 mg/day group. Also after 90 days the plasma levels of folicacid had risen from 28 nanomol/L in the placebo group to 63 nmol/L in the 400micrograms/day supplement group, to 80 nmol/L in the 1 mg/day group, and to 162nmol/L in the 5 mg/day group. Vitamin B6 levels rose from 75 nmol/L to about250 nmol/L in the supplemented groups and vitamin B12 levels rose from about300 picomol/L to 525 picomol/L. The
researchers conclude that a daily dose of400 micrograms of folic acid combined with vitamins B6 and B12 will normalizehomocysteine levels in heart disease patients.The researchers conclude that the benefits of folate supplementation can bemarkedly enhanced by the addition of vitamin B-12. They point out that vitaminB-12 deficiency is widespread especially among the elderly. Effects of folicacid and combinations of folic acid and vitamin B-12 on plasma homocysteineconcentrations in healthy, young women. Other researchers have found that acombination of folic acid (0.4-10 mg/day), vitamin B-12 (50-1000 micrograms/day),and vitamin B-6 (10-300 mg/day) is highly effective in lowering homocysteinelevels. The average age of the patients was 35 years and 93 per cent of themwere women. The researchers found that 15 per cent of the patients had raisedhomocysteine levels (greater than 14.1 micromol/liter). They also noted astrong inverse correlation between homocysteine levels and the levels of folicacid and vitamin B-6 in the blood. The researchers evaluated 17 studies dealingwith the link between homocysteine levels and the risk of coronary arterydisease (CAD). The researchers also evaluated 12 studies concerningthe connection between dietary intake of folic acid and homocysteine level. Theresearchers warn that an increased intake of folic acid may mask a vitamin B-12deficiency and recommend that 1 mg of vitamin B-12 be added to all supplementscontaining 400 micrograms of folic acid. Journal of the American MedicalAssociation, Vol. 274, No. They believe that the vitamin B12 injections were responsible forresolving