Folic acid causes higher prevalence of detectable unmetabolized folic acid in serum than B-complex: a randomized trial.

Purpose: Unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) is common in serum of elderly individuals receiving folic acid (FA)-fortified foods or supplements. We studied the effect of supplementing FA or B-complex on serum concentrations of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamate [(6S)-5-CH3-H4Pte] and UMFA in elderly people and explored factors associated with detectable UMFA post-supplementation.

Methods: This is a randomized single-blind non-controlled trial on 58 elderly people using daily 400 µg FA (n = 31) or 400 µg FA, 10 µg cyanocob(III)alamin and 8 mg pyridoxine (n = 27) for a median of 23 days.

One year B-vitamins increases serum and whole blood folate forms and lowers plasma homocysteine in older Germans.

Background: We aimed to study the effect of long-term supplementation of B-vitamins on folate forms in serum and whole blood (WB) in elderly German subjects.

Methods: 59 participants (mean age 67 years) were randomized to daily receive either vitamin D3 (1200 IU), folic acid (500 μg), vitamin B12 (500 μg), vitamin B6 (50 mg), and calcium carbonate (456 mg) or vitamin D3 plus calcium carbonate. Serum and WB folate forms were measured before and after 6 and 12 months.

One year B and D vitamins supplementation improves metabolic bone markers.

Background: Vitamin D and vitamin B deficiency are common in elderly subjects and are important risk factors for osteoporosis and age-related diseases. Supplementation with these vitamins is a promising preventative strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamins D3 and B supplementation on bone turnover and metabolism in elderly people.

Factors affecting the distribution of folate forms in the serum of elderly German adults.

Purpose: We investigated the roles of age, vitamin B(12) markers, and the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism as determinants of folate forms in serum.

Methods: We measured the serum concentrations of (6S)-5-CH(3)-H(4)folate, (6S)-H(4)folate, (6S)-5-HCO-H(4)folate, (6R)-5,10-CH(+)-H(4)folate, and folic acid in 146 non-supplemented older participants (median age 74 years). The concentrations of total vitamin B(12), holotranscobalamin (holoTC), methylmalonic acid (MMA), and total homocysteine (tHcy) were also measured.

Concentrations of unmetabolized folic acid and primary folate forms in plasma after folic acid treatment in older adults.

Folate deficiency can cause age-related disease. Folic acid (FA) has been used in studies aiming at disease prevention. Recently, unmetabolized FA in plasma raised public health concerns; but numerous studies used FA for disease prevention.