AJCN North Carolina Research Campus
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stabler, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by Allen, R. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stabler, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by Allen, R. H.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Stabler, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by Allen, R. H.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 66, 741-749, Copyright © 1997 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc


REVIEW ARTICLES

Vitamin B-12 deficiency in the elderly: current dilemmas

SP Stabler, J Lindenbaum and RH Allen
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80220, USA. jonesjo@jove.UCHSC.edu

Vitamin B-12 deficiency is present in up to 15% of the elderly population as documented by elevated methylmalonic acid with or without elevated total homocysteine concentrations in combination with low or low-normal vitamin B-12 concentrations. Clinical signs and symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency are insensitive in elderly subjects and comorbidity in these subjects makes responses to therapy difficult to interpret. Many elderly subjects with hyperhomocysteinemia have undiagnosed vitamin B-12 deficiency with elevated serum methylmalonic acid concentrations. Therefore, such elderly subjects should not receive folic acid supplementation before their vitamin B-12 status is diagnosed. Oral vitamin B-12 supplementation may be effective in lowering serum methylmalonic acid values in the elderly. However, the dose of vitamin B-12 in most common multivitamin preparations is too low for this purpose. Research efforts should be directed toward determining practical methods for diagnosing and treating vitamin B-12 deficiency in the millions of elderly subjects with undiagnosed deficiency.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
JAMAHome page
J. C. M. Brust
A 74-Year-Old Man With Memory Loss and Neuropathy Who Enjoys Alcoholic Beverages
JAMA, March 5, 2008; 299(9): 1046 - 1054.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
R. Obeid, P. Kostopoulos, J.-P. Knapp, M. Kasoha, G. Becker, K. Fassbender, and W. Herrmann
Biomarkers of Folate and Vitamin B12 Are Related in Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid
Clin. Chem., February 1, 2007; 53(2): 326 - 333.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Board Fam MedHome page
J. W. Mold, S. K. Vesely, B. A. Keyl, J. B. Schenk, and M. Roberts
The Prevalence, Predictors, and Consequences of Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy in Older Patients
J Am Board Fam Med, September 1, 2004; 17(5): 309 - 318.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Nutr.Home page
T. H. Kim, J. Yang, P. B. Darling, and D. L. O'Connor
A Large Pool of Available Folate Exists in the Large Intestine of Human Infants and Piglets
J. Nutr., June 1, 2004; 134(6): 1389 - 1394.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Nutr.Home page
J. B. Mason
Biomarkers of Nutrient Exposure and Status in One-Carbon (Methyl) Metabolism
J. Nutr., March 1, 2003; 133(3): 941S - 947.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Am. Coll. Nutr.Home page
G. C. Rampersaud, G. P.A. Kauwell, and L. B. Bailey
Folate: A Key to Optimizing Health and Reducing Disease Risk in the Elderly
J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2003; 22(1): 1 - 8.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
C. Aguirre, G. Barreiro, A.-M. Hvas, J. Ellegaard, and E. Nexo
Methylmalonic Acid and Clinical Practice
Arch Intern Med, January 14, 2002; 162(1): 102 - 103.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.Home page
E. Calvaresi and J. Bryan
B Vitamins, Cognition, and Aging: A Review
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2001; 56(6): P327 - 339.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
W. Herrmann, H. Schorr, K. Purschwitz, F. Rassoul, and V. Richter
Total Homocysteine, Vitamin B12, and Total Antioxidant Status in Vegetarians
Clin. Chem., June 1, 2001; 47(6): 1094 - 1101.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
K. M Koehler, R. N Baumgartner, P. J Garry, R. H Allen, S. P Stabler, and E. B Rimm
Association of folate intake and serum homocysteine in elderly persons according to vitamin supplementation and alcohol use
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2001; 73(3): 628 - 637.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
B. W.J.H. Penninx, J. M. Guralnik, L. Ferrucci, L. P. Fried, R. H. Allen, and S. P. Stabler
Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Depression in Physically Disabled Older Women: Epidemiologic Evidence From the Women's Health and Aging Study
Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2000; 157(5): 715 - 721.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
R. Z Stolzenberg-Solomon, E. R Miller III, M. G Maguire, J. Selhub, and L. J Appel
Association of dietary protein intake and coffee consumption with serum homocysteine concentrations in an older population
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 1999; 69(3): 467 - 475.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
D. K Houston, M. A. Johnson, R. J Nozza, E. W Gunter, K. J Shea, G M. Cutler, and J. T Edmonds
Age-related hearing loss, vitamin B-12, and folate in elderly women
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 1999; 69(3): 564 - 571.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Chem.Home page
D. W. Jacobsen
Homocysteine and vitamins in cardiovascular disease
Clin. Chem., August 1, 1998; 44(8): 1833 - 1843.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by The American Society for Nutrition