Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions

Background and Aims: Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) has been suggested as a risk factor of dementia. Our aim was to investigate potential differences in tHcy status in relation to the prescription of vitamin B12 and dementia diagnosis. We examined whether vitamin B12 prescriptions, a family histor...

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Main Authors: Nils-Olof Hagnelius, Lars-Olof Wahlund, Jörn Schneede, Torbjörn K. Nilsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2012-09-01
Series:Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/339669
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author Nils-Olof Hagnelius
Lars-Olof Wahlund
Jörn Schneede
Torbjörn K. Nilsson
author_facet Nils-Olof Hagnelius
Lars-Olof Wahlund
Jörn Schneede
Torbjörn K. Nilsson
author_sort Nils-Olof Hagnelius
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aims: Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) has been suggested as a risk factor of dementia. Our aim was to investigate potential differences in tHcy status in relation to the prescription of vitamin B12 and dementia diagnosis. We examined whether vitamin B12 prescriptions, a family history of dementia, or the need for home care service might be associated with tHcy values. Methods: A cross-sectional monocenter study comprising 926 consecutive subjects attending our Memory Care Unit was conducted. Results: Demented subjects being prescribed vitamin B12 had higher serum vitamin B12 (p = 0.025) but also higher tHcy (p 12 prescriptions. tHcy levels were significantly higher in non-demented subjects receiving home care service (p = 0.007). This group also had lower serum albumin (dementia: p 12 prescriptions (dementia with/without vitamin B12 prescription: p = 0.561; non-dementia with/without vitamin B12 prescription: p = 0.710). Conclusion: Despite vitamin B12 prescriptions, demented subjects had higher tHcy and methylmalonate values. The elevated metabolite values could not be explained by differences in renal function. Thus, elderly subjects on vitamin B12 prescription appear to have unmet nutritional needs.
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spelling doaj.art-8df02b8695604eecb3375ee628d53c352022-12-21T23:39:44ZengKarger PublishersDementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra1664-54642012-09-012138739910.1159/000339669339669Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 PrescriptionsNils-Olof HagneliusLars-Olof WahlundJörn SchneedeTorbjörn K. NilssonBackground and Aims: Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) has been suggested as a risk factor of dementia. Our aim was to investigate potential differences in tHcy status in relation to the prescription of vitamin B12 and dementia diagnosis. We examined whether vitamin B12 prescriptions, a family history of dementia, or the need for home care service might be associated with tHcy values. Methods: A cross-sectional monocenter study comprising 926 consecutive subjects attending our Memory Care Unit was conducted. Results: Demented subjects being prescribed vitamin B12 had higher serum vitamin B12 (p = 0.025) but also higher tHcy (p 12 prescriptions. tHcy levels were significantly higher in non-demented subjects receiving home care service (p = 0.007). This group also had lower serum albumin (dementia: p 12 prescriptions (dementia with/without vitamin B12 prescription: p = 0.561; non-dementia with/without vitamin B12 prescription: p = 0.710). Conclusion: Despite vitamin B12 prescriptions, demented subjects had higher tHcy and methylmalonate values. The elevated metabolite values could not be explained by differences in renal function. Thus, elderly subjects on vitamin B12 prescription appear to have unmet nutritional needs.http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/339669HomocysteineDementiaVitamin B12FolateHome care service
spellingShingle Nils-Olof Hagnelius
Lars-Olof Wahlund
Jörn Schneede
Torbjörn K. Nilsson
Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
Homocysteine
Dementia
Vitamin B12
Folate
Home care service
title Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions
title_full Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions
title_fullStr Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions
title_full_unstemmed Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions
title_short Blood Concentrations of Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid among Demented and Non-Demented Swedish Elderly with and without Home Care Services and Vitamin B12 Prescriptions
title_sort blood concentrations of homocysteine and methylmalonic acid among demented and non demented swedish elderly with and without home care services and vitamin b12 prescriptions
topic Homocysteine
Dementia
Vitamin B12
Folate
Home care service
url http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/339669
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