Effects of Low-dose Complex B-vitamins on Homocysteine and Framingham Risk Score Among Chinese Elderly

Effects of Low-dose B-vitamins Supplementation on Plasma Homocysteine and Framingham Risk Score: Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Chinese Elderly

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether low dose complex B-vitamins (folic acid,vitamin B6 and vitamin B12) can lower the risk of developing hyperhomocysteinemia in an apparently healthy population with low folate/B12 and high Hcy status.

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been well known as an independent risk factor for CVD. Numerous studies have demonstrated that certain kinds of vitamin B(folic acid,vitamin B6 and vitamin B12)can reduce Hcy level and may prevent CVD. However, the majority of those studies has been conducted always used high dose vitamin in patient or high risk population. There is thus absence of data that the effectiveness of low dose complex B-vitamins on the apparently Chinese elderly population with relative sub-nutritional status. Our study is just focus on the aforementioned aspect.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female residents living in the field site for at least 12 months
• Aged 60-74 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of chronic disease and taking medications for treatment such as CVD, COPD, cancer, severe renal and liver disease, diabetes.
• Use of multivitamins, and individual vitamins such as folic acid, B12, or B6 in the last 6 months.
• Taking medications known to interfere with folate metabolism, including methotrexate, tamoxifen, L-DOPA, niacin, phenytoin, bile acid sequestrants; anticonvulsant medications (such as dilantin, phenytoin, and primidone), Metformin, Sulfasalazine.
• Conditions that prevent participation or compliance such as Downs syndrome, mental problems, or severe cognitive impairment