Vitamin B12 and cognitive function: An evidence-based analysis

Ontario Health Technology Assessment Series

Volumn 13, Issue 23, 2013, Pages 1-45

[No Author Info available]

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CYANOCOBALAMIN; HOMOCYSTEINE; METHYLMALONIC ACID;

ARTICLE; CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS; COGNITION; COGNITIVE DEFECT; CYANOCOBALAMIN DEFICIENCY; DEMENTIA; DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY; DISEASE ASSOCIATION; DRUG EFFICACY; EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE; FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT; HUMAN; NONHUMAN; OBSERVATIONAL STUDY; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; PATIENT ASSESSMENT; PRACTICE GUIDELINE; PREVALENCE; QUALITY CONTROL; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; VITAMIN BLOOD LEVEL; VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION;

BLOOD CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; COGNITION; DEMENTIA; DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS; EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE; HOMOCYSTEINE; HUMANS; INJECTIONS, INTRAMUSCULAR; LONGITUDINAL STUDIES; MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT; ONTARIO; PRACTICE GUIDELINES AS TOPIC; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC; RESEARCH DESIGN; TREATMENT OUTCOME; VITAMIN B 12; VITAMIN B 12 DEFICIENCY; VITAMIN B COMPLEX;

EID: 84888624450     PISSN: 19157398     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (82)

1. Snow CF. Laboratory diagnosis of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159(6):1289-98.
2. Rumsey SE, Hokin B, Magin PJ, Pond D. Macrocytosis: an Australian general practice perspective. Aust Fam Physician. 2007;36(7):571-2.
3. Aslinia F, Mazza JJ, Yale SH. Megaloblastic anemia and other causes of macrocytosis. Clin Med Res. 2006;4(3):236-41.
4. Kaferle J, Strzoda CE. Evaluation of macrocytosis. Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(3):203-8.
5. Carmel R. Pernicious anemia: the expected findings of very low serum cobalamin levels, anemia, and macrocytosis are often lacking. Arch Intern Med. 1988;148:1712-4.
6. Lindenbaum J, Healton EB, Savage DG, Brust JCM, Garrett TJ, Podell ER, et al. Neuropsychiatric disorders caused by cobalamin deficiency in the absence of anemia or macrocytosis. N Engl J Med. 1988;318:1720-8.
7. Carmel R. Prevalence of undiagnosed pernicious anemia in the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:1097-100.
8. Guralnik JM, Eisenstaedt RS, Ferrucci L, Klein HG, Woodman RC. Prevalence of anemia in persons 65 years and older in the United States: evidence for a high rate of unexplained anemia. Blood. 2004;104:2263-8.
9. 3rd Canadian Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia. Canadian Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia. 2007 [cited: 2012 Oct 10]. Available from: http://www.cccdtd.ca/pdfs/Final_Recommendations_CCCDTD_2007.pdf
10. Chertkow H. Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: introduction. Can Med Assoc J. 2008;178(3):316-21.
11. Feldman HH, Jacova C, Robillard A, Garcia A, Chow T, Borrie M, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 2. Diagnosis. Can Med Assoc J. 2008;178(7):825-36.
12. Garcia A. Cobalamin and homocysteine in older adults: do we need to test for serum levels in the work-up of dementia? Alzheimers Dement. 2007;3(4):318-24.
13. Clarfield AM. The decreasing prevalence of reversible dementias: an updated meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2219-29.
14. BC Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee. Cognitive impairment in the elderly--recognition, diagnosis and management. Vancouver, BC: Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee. 2007 [cited: 2012 Oct 10]. Available from: http://www.bcguidelines.ca/pdf/cognitive.pdf
15. Willis CD, Elshaug AG, Milverton JL, Watt AM, Metz MP, Hiller JE. Diagnostic performance of serum cobalamin tests: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pathology. 2011;43(5):472-81.
16. Hvas A-M, Nexo E. Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency. An update. Haematologica. 2006;91(11):1506-12.
17. Bailey RL, Carmel R, Green R, Pfeiffer CM, Cogswell ME, Osterloh JD, et al. Monitoring of vitamin B-12 nutritional status in the United States by using plasma methylmalonic acid and serum vitamin B-12. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(2):552-61.
18. Yetley EA, Pfeiffer CM, Phinney KW, Bailey RL, Blackmore S, Bock JL, et al. Biomarkers of vitamin B-12 status in NHANES: a roundtable summary. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(1):313S-21S.
19. BC Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee. Cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency: investigation and management. British Columbia: BC Ministry of Health. 2012 [cited: 2012 Aug 28]. 4 p. Available from: http://www.bcguidelines.ca/guideline_cobalamin.html
20. Smellie WSA, Wilson D, McNulty CAM, Galloway MJ, Spickett GA, Finnigan DI, et al. Best practice in primary care pathology: review 1. J Clin Pathol. 2005;58(10):1016-24.
21. Andres E, Loukili NH, Noel E, Kaltenbach G, Abdelgheni MB, Perrin AE, et al. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency in elderly patients. Can Med Assoc J. 2004;171(3):251-9.
22. AGREE Working Group. Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II (AGREE). Hamilton, ON: AGREE Working Group. 2009 [cited: 2012 Aug 28]. 56 p. Available from: http://www.agreetrust.org/
23. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Management of patients with dementia. Edinburgh: NHS Scotland. 2006 [cited: 2012 Dec 12]. 57 p. 86. Available from: http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign86.pdf
24. Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Schuenemann HJ, Tugwell P, Knottnerus A. GRADE guidelines: a new series of articles in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. J Clin Epidemiol. 2011;64(4):380-2.
25. Goodman C. Literature searching and evidence interpretation for assessing health care practices. Stockholm, Sweden: Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. 1996 SBU. Report No. 119E.
26. Moore E, Mander A, Ames D, Carne R, Sanders K, Watters D. Cognitive impairment and vitamin B12: a review. Int Psychogeriatr. 2012;24(4):541-56.
27. Ho RC, Cheung MW, Fu E, Win HH, Zaw MH, Ng A, et al. Is high homocysteine level a risk factor for cognitive decline in elderly? A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;19(7):607-17.
28. Wald DS, Kasturiratne A, Simmonds M. Serum homocysteine and dementia: meta-analysis of eight cohort studies including 8669 participants. Alzheimers Dement. 2011;7(4):412-7.
29. Dangour AD, Whitehouse PJ, Rafferty K, Mitchell SA, Smith L, Hawkesworth S, et al. B-vitamins and fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and dementia: a systematic review. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;22(1):205-24.
30. Van Dam F., Van Gool WA. Hyperhomocysteinemia and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009;48(3):425-30.
31. Raman G, Tatsioni A, Chung M, Rosenberg IH, Lau J, Lichtenstein AH, et al. Heterogeneity and lack of good quality studies limit association between folate, vitamins B-6 and B-12, and cognitive function. J Nutr. 2007;137(7):1789-94.
32. Ellinson M, Thomas J, Patterson A. A critical evaluation of the relationship between serum vitamin B, folate and total homocysteine with cognitive impairment in the elderly. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2004;17(4):371-83.
33. Zylberstein DE, Lissner L, Bjorkelund C, Mehlig K, Thelle DS, Gustafson D, et al. Midlife homocysteine and late-life dementia in women. A prospective population study. Neurobiol Aging. 2011;32:380-6.
34. Seshadri S, Beiser A, Selhub J, Jacques PF, Rosenberg IH, D'Agostino RB, et al. Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(7):476-83.
35. Kivipelto M, Annerbo S, Hultdin J, Backman L, Viitanen M, Fratiglioni L, et al. Homocysteine and holo-transcobalamin and the risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease: a prospective study. Eur J Neurol. 2009;16(7):808-13.
36. Nurk E, Refsum H, Tell GS, Engedal K, Vollset SE, Ueland PM, et al. Plasma total homocysteine and memory in the elderly: The Hordaland homocysteine study. Ann Neurol. 2005;58(6):847-57.
37. Luchsinger JA, Tang MX, Shea S, Miller J, Green R, Mayeux R. Plasma homocysteine levels and risk of Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2004;62(11):1972-6.
38. Haan MN, Miller JW, Aiello AE, Whitmer RA, Jagust WJ, Mungas DM, et al. Homocysteine, B vitamins, and the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment: results from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(2):511-7.
39. Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F, Martelli M, Servadei L, Brunetti N, et al. Homocysteine and folate as risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82(3):636-43.
40. Wang H-X, Wahlin A, Basun H, Fastbom J, Windlad B, Fratiglioni L. Vitamin B12 and folate in relation to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology. 2001;56:1188-94.
41. Kalmijn S, Launer LJ, Lindemans J, Bots ML, Hofman A, Breteler MMB. Total homocysteine and cognitive decline in a community-based sample of elderly subjects. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;150(3):283-9.
42. Kim JM, Stewart R, Kim SW, Shin IS, Yang SJ, Shin HY, et al. Changes in folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine associated with incident dementia. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008;79(8):864-8.
43. Rowan EN, Dickinson HO, Stephens S, Ballard C, Kalaria R, Kenny RA. Homocysteine and post-stroke cognitive decline. Age Ageing. 2007;36(3):339-43.
44. Ford AH, Almeida OP. Effect of homocysteine lowering treatment on cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;29(1):133-49.
45. Jia X, McNeill G, Avenell A. Does taking vitamin, mineral and fatty acid supplements prevent cognitive decline? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Human Nutr Diet. 2008;21(4):317-36.
46. Balk EM, Raman G, Tatsioni A, Chung M, Lau J, Rosenberg IH. Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation and cognitive function: a systematic review of randomized trials. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(1):21-30.
47. Malouf R, Areosa SA. Vitamin B12 for cognition. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(3):CD004326.
48. de Jager CA, Oulhaj A, Jacoby R, Refsum H, Smith AD. Cognitive and clinical outcomes of homocysteine-lowering B-vitamin treatment in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012;27(6):592-600.
49. Kwok T, Lee J, Law CB, Pan PC, Yung CY, Choi KC, et al. A randomized placebo controlled trial of homocysteine lowering to reduce cognitive decline in older demented people. Clin Nutr. 2011;30(3):297-302.
50. Ford AH, Flicker L, Alfonso H, Thomas J, Clarnette R, Martins R, et al. Vitamins B(12), B(6), and folic acid for cognition in older men. Neurology. 2010;75(17):1540-7.
51. Aisen PS, Schneider LS, Sano M, Diaz-Arrastia R, van Dyck CH, Weiner MF, et al. High-dose B vitamin supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA: J Am Med Assoc. 2008;300(15):1774-83.
52. Kang JH, Cook N, Manson J, Buring JE, Albert CM, Grodstein F. A trial of B vitamins and cognitive function among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88(6):1602-10.
53. Eussen SJ, de Groot LC, Joosten LW, Bloo RJ, Clarke R, Ueland PM, et al. Effect of oral vitamin B-12 with or without folic acid on cognitive function in older people with mild vitamin B-12 deficiency: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84(2):361-70.
54. McMahon JA, Green TJ, Skeaff CM, Knight RG, Mann JI, Williams SM. A controlled trial of homocysteine lowering and cognitive performance. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(26):2764-72.
55. Lewerin C, Matousek M, Steen G, Johansson B, Steen B, Nilsson-Ehle H. Significant correlations of plasma homocysteine and serum methymalonic acid with movement and cognitive performance in elderly subjects but no improvement from short-term vitamin therapy: a placebo-controlled randomized study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:1155-62.
56. Stott DJ, MacIntosh G, Lowe GD, Rumley A, McMahon AD, Langhorne P, et al. Randomized controlled trial of homocysteine-lowering vitamin treatment in elderly patients with vascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82(6):1320-6.
57. Garcia A, Pulman K, Zanibbi K, Day A. Cobalamin reduces homocysteine in older adults on folic acid-fortified diet: pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52(8):1410-2.
58. Hvas AM, Juul S, Lauritzen L, Nexo E, Ellegaard J. No effect of vitamin B-12 treatment on cognitive function and depression: a randomized placebo controlled study. J Affect Disord. 2004;81(3):269-73.
59. Clarke R, Harrison G, Richards S, Vital Trial Collaborative Group. Effect of vitamins and aspirin on markers of platelet activation, oxidative stress and homocysteine in people at high risk of dementia. J Intern Med. 2003;254(1):67-75.
60. Bryan J, Calvaresi E, Hughes D. Short-term folate, vitamin B12 or B6 supplementation slightly affects memory performance but not mood in women of various ages. J Nutr. 2002;132:1345-56.
61. Seal EC, Metz J, Flicker L, Melny J. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral vitamin B12 supplementation in older patients with subnormal or borderline serum vitamin B12 concentrations. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50:146-51.
62. Kwok T, Tang C, Woo J, Lai WK, Law LK, Pang CP. Randomized trial of the effect of supplementation on the cognitive function of older people with subnormal cobalamin levels. Int J Geriat Psychiatry. 1998;13:611-6.
63. de la Fourniere F, Ferry M, Cnockaert X. Vitamin B12 deficiency and dementia status: multicentre epidemiological study therapy. Sem Hop. 1997;73(5-6):133-40.
64. Kral VA, Solyom L, Enesco H, Ledwidge B. Relationship of vitamin B12 and folic acid to memory function. Bio Psychiatry. 1970;2:19-26.
65. Smith AD, Smith SM, de Jager CA, Whitbread P, Johnston C, Agacinski G, et al. Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE [Electronic Resource]. 2010;5(9):e12244.
66. Heneghan C. Vitamin B and slowing the rate of brain atrophy: the numbers don't add up [Internet]. TrustTheEvidence.net; [updated 2012; cited 2012 Dec 12]. Available from: http://blogs.trusttheevidence.net/carl-heneghan/vitamin-b-and-slowing-the-rate-of-brain-atrophy-the-numbers-dont-add-up/100909109
67. Vidal-Alaball J, Butler CC, Cannings-John R, Goringe A, Hood K, McCaddon A, et al. Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(3):CD004655.
68. Kuzminski AM, Del Giacco EJ, Allen RH, Stabler SP, Lindenbaum J. Effective treatment of cobalamin deficiency with oral cobalamin. Blood. 1998;92(4):1191-8.
69. Bolaman Z, Kadikoylu G, Yukselen V, Yavasoglu I, Barutca S, Senturk T. Oral versus intramuscular cobalamin treatment in megaloblastic anemia: a single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study. Clin Ther. 2003;25(12):3124-34.
70. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Oral versus injectable vitamin B12 supplementation: clinical and cost-effectiveness. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. 2007 7 p. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Available from: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/Oral%20vs%20Injectable%20Vitamin%20B12%20Supplementation%20Clinical%20and%20Cost%20Effectiveness.pdf
71. Castelli MC, Friedman K, Sherry J, Brazzillo K, Genoble L, Bhargava P, et al. Comparing the efficacy and tolerability of a new daily oral vitamin B12 formulation and intermittent intramuscular vitamin B12 in normalizing low cobalamin levels: a randomized, open-label, parallel-group study. Clin Ther. 2011;33(3):358-71.
72. Smith AD, Refsum H. Do we need to reconsider the desirable blood level of vitamin B12? J Intern Med. 2011;271:179-82.
73. McLean E, de Benoist B, Allen LH. Review of the magnitude of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies worldwide. Food Nutr Bull. 2008;29(2):S38-S51.
74. Allen LH. How common is vitamin B12 deficiency? Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(2):693S-6S.
75. Tucker KL, Rich S, Rosenberg I, Jacques P, Dallal G, Wilson PWF, et al. Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations relate to intake source in the Framingham Offspring Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(2):514-22.
76. Metz J, McNeil AR, Levin M. The relationship between serum cobalamin concentration and mean red cell volume at varying concentrations of serum folate. Clin Lab Haem. 2004;26:323-5.
77. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Methylcobalamin ultra (vitamin B12) and vitamin C supplementation for the general population: clinical evidence. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. 2012 [cited: 2012 Dec 12]. Available from: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/sept-2012/RB0530%20Vitamins%20B12%20and%20C%20Final.pdf
78. Tierney MS, Lermer MA. Computerized cognitive assessment in primary care to identify patients with suspected cognitive impairment. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20(3):823-32.
79. Martin-Khan M, Wootton R, Gray L. A systematic review of the reliability of screening for cognitive impairment in older adults by use of standardised assessment tools administered via the telephone. J Telemed Telecare. 2010;16(8):422-8.
80. Kaszas B, Kovacs N, Balas I, Kallai J, Aschemann Z, Kerekes Z, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery and Mini Mental State Examination for diagnosing dementia in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2012;18(5):553-6.
81. Stabler SP. Vitamin B12 deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(2):149-60.
82. Food and Nutrition Board. DRI Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline [Internet]. [updated 1998; cited 2013 Jan 15]. Available from: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6015&page=339