Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status

BACKGROUND: Methylmalonic acid (MMA) in plasma or serum is widely used for assessment of vitamin B(12) status. However, data are sparse regarding factors, besides renal function, that may influence MMA concentrations. We searched for important determinants of plasma MMA in the general population. M...

Description complète

Détails bibliographiques
Auteurs principaux: Vogiatzoglou, A, Oulhaj, A, Smith, A, al., E
Format: Journal article
Langue:English
Publié: American Association for Clinical Chemistry 2009
_version_ 1826256767899664384
author Vogiatzoglou, A
Oulhaj, A
Smith, A
al., E
author_facet Vogiatzoglou, A
Oulhaj, A
Smith, A
al., E
author_sort Vogiatzoglou, A
collection OXFORD
description BACKGROUND: Methylmalonic acid (MMA) in plasma or serum is widely used for assessment of vitamin B(12) status. However, data are sparse regarding factors, besides renal function, that may influence MMA concentrations. We searched for important determinants of plasma MMA in the general population. METHODS: In 6946 middle-aged (47-49 years) and elderly (71-74 years) individuals from the Hordaland Homocysteine Study in Norway, we collected anthropometric measurements, lifestyle data, and plasma MMA, vitamin B(12), and creatinine measurements. For 5820 individuals, we also collected dietary data. RESULTS: Age and plasma creatinine were positively associated with plasma MMA, whereas plasma vitamin B(12) was negatively associated. These variables together with sex were the strongest determinants of plasma MMA, accounting for 16% of the variation (R(2) = 0.16). Addition of anthropometric measures and lifestyle and dietary factors only gave slight improvement (total R(2) = 0.167). Increased plasma MMA was seen when plasma vitamin B(12) was <400 pmol/L. In individuals with vitamin B(12) >or =400 micromol/L (vitamin B(12)-replete), the 2.5th-97.5th percentile reference limits for MMA were 0.10-0.28 micromol/L (middle-aged) and 0.10-0.36 micromol/L (elderly). When plotted against creatinine (nomograms), the 97.5th percentile of MMA was similar in men and women but approximately 0.15 micromol/L higher in elderly than middle-aged individuals. Vitamin B(12)-replete participants had MMA upper limits approximately 0.1 micromol/L (elderly) and 0.04 micromol/L (middle-aged) below those of the unselected population at all creatinine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Identified determinants accounted for <17% of the overall variation in plasma MMA. The difference in MMA between middle-aged and elderly individuals is only partly explained by creatinine and vitamin B(12) concentrations.
first_indexed 2024-03-06T18:07:29Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:01ec4046-ee4f-41cd-8f38-6186c50b2707
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-06T18:07:29Z
publishDate 2009
publisher American Association for Clinical Chemistry
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:01ec4046-ee4f-41cd-8f38-6186c50b27072022-03-26T08:37:39ZDeterminants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 statusJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:01ec4046-ee4f-41cd-8f38-6186c50b2707EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry2009Vogiatzoglou, AOulhaj, ASmith, Aal., E BACKGROUND: Methylmalonic acid (MMA) in plasma or serum is widely used for assessment of vitamin B(12) status. However, data are sparse regarding factors, besides renal function, that may influence MMA concentrations. We searched for important determinants of plasma MMA in the general population. METHODS: In 6946 middle-aged (47-49 years) and elderly (71-74 years) individuals from the Hordaland Homocysteine Study in Norway, we collected anthropometric measurements, lifestyle data, and plasma MMA, vitamin B(12), and creatinine measurements. For 5820 individuals, we also collected dietary data. RESULTS: Age and plasma creatinine were positively associated with plasma MMA, whereas plasma vitamin B(12) was negatively associated. These variables together with sex were the strongest determinants of plasma MMA, accounting for 16% of the variation (R(2) = 0.16). Addition of anthropometric measures and lifestyle and dietary factors only gave slight improvement (total R(2) = 0.167). Increased plasma MMA was seen when plasma vitamin B(12) was <400 pmol/L. In individuals with vitamin B(12) >or =400 micromol/L (vitamin B(12)-replete), the 2.5th-97.5th percentile reference limits for MMA were 0.10-0.28 micromol/L (middle-aged) and 0.10-0.36 micromol/L (elderly). When plotted against creatinine (nomograms), the 97.5th percentile of MMA was similar in men and women but approximately 0.15 micromol/L higher in elderly than middle-aged individuals. Vitamin B(12)-replete participants had MMA upper limits approximately 0.1 micromol/L (elderly) and 0.04 micromol/L (middle-aged) below those of the unselected population at all creatinine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Identified determinants accounted for <17% of the overall variation in plasma MMA. The difference in MMA between middle-aged and elderly individuals is only partly explained by creatinine and vitamin B(12) concentrations.
spellingShingle Vogiatzoglou, A
Oulhaj, A
Smith, A
al., E
Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status
title Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status
title_full Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status
title_fullStr Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status
title_short Determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population: implications for assessment of vitamin B12 status
title_sort determinants of plasma methylmalonic acid in a large population implications for assessment of vitamin b12 status
work_keys_str_mv AT vogiatzogloua determinantsofplasmamethylmalonicacidinalargepopulationimplicationsforassessmentofvitaminb12status
AT oulhaja determinantsofplasmamethylmalonicacidinalargepopulationimplicationsforassessmentofvitaminb12status
AT smitha determinantsofplasmamethylmalonicacidinalargepopulationimplicationsforassessmentofvitaminb12status
AT ale determinantsofplasmamethylmalonicacidinalargepopulationimplicationsforassessmentofvitaminb12status