[Effectiveness of oral supplements of folates, vitamins B12 and B6 in hemodialysed patients. Preliminary results after 5 months of follow-up].

Background: Elevated serum levels of homocysteine have increasingly been associated as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Recent reports demonstrated that supplements of folates, vitamin B12 (B12) and vitamin B6 (B6) are effective in correcting serum Hcy levels in hemodialysed patients.

Aim: to assess the effectiveness of oral supplements of folates, B12 and B6, in order to reduce serum Hcy levels in our cohort of hemodialysed patients.

Methods: Sixty-one hemodialysed patients have been enrolled in the study (age 68+/-13 years; hemodialysis 62+/-42 months). Oral supplements of calcium folinate (30 mg 3 times a week), B12 (500 mg 3 times a week) and B6 (200 mg 3 times a week) were administered at the end of each hemodialysis session. Serum levels of Hcy, folic acid and B12 were tested at the beginning of the study and at 2 month intervals.

Results: After 5 months of follow-up, serum levels of Hcy were normalised in 19% of our patients and in total 70% of them showed a reduction >8% when compared with the basal Hcy levels. No side effects related to folates, B12 or B6 supplementation were observed.

Conclusions: Oral supplements of folates, B12 and B6 are a safe and effective treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in hemodialysed patients.