Document Detail


Bread cofortified with folic acid and vitamin B-12 improves the folate and vitamin B-12 status of healthy older people: a randomized controlled trial.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18689370     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid has reduced the number of neural tube defects in North America. Concerns that high intakes of folic acid might mask vitamin B-12 deficiency in older persons have delayed the introduction of fortification in many European countries. Cofortification of flour with folic acid and vitamin B-12 could simultaneously improve folate and vitamin B-12 status. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to estimate the effect of the consumption of bread fortified with modest amounts of folic acid and vitamin B-12 on folate and vitamin B-12 status in healthy older persons living in the Netherlands, where folic acid fortification is not taking place. DESIGN: Men and women aged 50-75 y were randomly assigned in this 12-wk double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to consume bread fortified with 138 mug folic acid and 9.6 mug vitamin B-12 daily (n = 72) or unfortified bread (n = 70). RESULTS: The consumption of fortified bread increased serum folate concentrations by 45% (mean: 6.3 nmol/L; 95% CI: 4.5, 8.1 nmol/L) and serum vitamin B-12 concentrations by 49% (mean: 102 pmol/L; 95% CI: 82, 122 pmol/L) relative to the placebo group. Fortified bread increased erythrocyte folate concentrations by 22% and holotranscobalamin concentrations by 35%; it decreased homocysteine concentrations by 13% and methylmalonic acid concentrations by 10%. Consumption of fortified bread decreased the proportion of individuals with marginal serum vitamin B-12 concentrations (<133 pmol/L) from 8% at enrollment to 0% after 12 wk. CONCLUSION: Bread fortified with modest amounts of folic acid and vitamin B-12 will improve folate and vitamin B-12 status and a considerable proportion of vitamin B-12 deficiency in older people. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00353353.
Authors:
Renate M Winkels; Ingeborg A Brouwer; Robert Clarke; Martijn B Katan; Petra Verhoef
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of clinical nutrition     Volume:  88     ISSN:  1938-3207     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Clin. Nutr.     Publication Date:  2008 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-08-11     Completed Date:  2008-09-12     Revised Date:  2009-05-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376027     Medline TA:  Am J Clin Nutr     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  348-55     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Top Institute of Food & Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aging / blood,  metabolism
Bread / analysis
Double-Blind Method
Erythrocytes / chemistry,  drug effects,  metabolism
Female
Folic Acid / administration & dosage*,  blood*
Food, Fortified*
Homocysteine / blood
Humans
Male
Methylmalonic Acid / blood
Middle Aged
Neural Tube Defects / prevention & control
Nutritional Requirements
Nutritional Status*
Vitamin B 12 / administration & dosage*,  blood*
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / diagnosis,  prevention & control
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
454-28-4/Homocysteine; 516-05-2/Methylmalonic Acid; 59-30-3/Folic Acid; 68-19-9/Vitamin B 12
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):253-4   [PMID:  18689357 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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