Effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on biomarkers of endothelial function and inflammation among elderly individuals with hyperhomocysteinemia

Suzanne C. van Dijk, Anke W. Enneman, Karin M. A. Swart, Janneke P. van Wijngaarden, Annelies C. Ham, R. de Jonge, Henk J. Blom, Edith J. Feskens, Johanna Marianne Geleijnse, Natasja M. van Schoor, Rosalie A. M. Dhonukshe-Rutten, Renate T. de Jongh, Paul Lips, Lisette C. P. G. M. de Groot, Andre G. Uitterlinden, Ton H. van den Meiracker, Francesco U. S. Mattace-Raso, Nathalie van der Velde, Yvo M. Smulders, Henricus Blom

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27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

B-vitamin trials failed to demonstrate beneficial effects on cardiovascular outcomes, but hyperhomocysteinemia still stands out as an independent cardiovascular risk factor, particularly in elderly individuals. B-vitamins may influence early vascular dysfunction, such as endothelial dysfunction, or may have adverse effects, for example on inflammation. We investigated the effect of B-vitamins on endothelial function and inflammation within an interventional study. This study was conducted within the framework of the B-PROOF trial, which included 2919 hyperhomocysteinemic elderly individuals, who received daily vitamin B12 (500 μg) and folic acid (400 μg) or placebo for 2 years. Using an electrochemiluminescence platform, we measured intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), serum amyloid A (SAA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) at baseline and follow-up in a subsample of 522 participants (271 intervention group; 251 placebo). Treatment effects were analyzed with ANCOVA. The participants had a mean age of 72 years, and 55% of them were male. At the 2-year follow-up, B-vitamins did not change the ICAM-1 (+36% change in the intervention group versus +32% change in the placebo group; p = 0.72), VCAM-1 (+27% vs +25%; p = 0.39), VEGF (-1% vs +4%; p = 0.40), SAA (+34% vs +38%; p = 0.85) or CRP levels (+26% vs +36%; p = 0.70) as compared to placebo. In conclusion, in elderly patients with hyperhomocysteinemia, vitamin B12 and folic acid are unlikely to influence either endothelial function or low-grade systemic inflammation. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00696514
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)91-98
JournalVascular medicine (London, England)
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016

Keywords

  • B-PROOF
  • B-vitamins
  • Biomarkers
  • endothelial function
  • folic acid
  • homocysteine
  • inflammation

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