B-Vitamins and Homocysteine in Spanish Institutionalized Elderly

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an accepted risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and possibly also for cognitive impairment and dementia. It has also been proposed as a marker for the status of the B vitamins, which participate in the metabolism of homocysteine. Therefore, especially in the elderly, it is important to know the prevalence of high homocysteine (tHcy) levels and the influence that B vitamins have on them. Material and Methods: 218 elderly of both sexes, aged 60–105, living in an elderly home in Granada (Spain), were screened for serum folate, red blood cell (RBC) folate, serum cobalamin (B12) (Abbott, IMx), holotranscobalamin II (Holo-TC II) (HoloTC RIA, Axis-Shield), methylmalonic acid (MMA) (MS-GC), total pyridoxine (B6) (HPLC), and total homocysteine (tHcy) (Abbott, IMx). Results: Hyperhomocysteinemia (tHcy > 12 μmol/L) was detected in 80.7%. Serum folate deficiency was severe (≤ 4 ng/mL) in 19.3% and moderate (4–7 ng/mL) in 43.1%. In 14.2% of the elderly RBC folate was ≤ 175 ng/mL...