| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Original Research Communication |
1 From the Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands, and the Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Background: Frail elders are at risk of suboptimal micronutrient status, functional decline, and neurologic disorders. The influence of oral multimicronutrients in physiologic doses and of moderately intense physical exercise on homocysteine (Hcy), methylmalonic acid (MMA), and neurologic functioning have not yet been investigated.
Objective: Our goal was to determine the effects of enriched foods and exercise on blood vitamins, Hcy, MMA, and neuropsychological functioning in the frail.
Design: A 17-wk randomized controlled intervention trial was used to study 1) enriched foods plus a social program, 2) regular foods plus exercise, 3) enriched foods plus exercise, and 4) regular foods plus a social program. Enriched foods contained multiple micronutrients (25–100% of the Dutch recommended dietary allowances); exercises focused on strength, coordination, flexibility, and endurance. Vitamin (cobalamin, red blood cell folate, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate), Hcy, and MMA concentrations were measured and 2 neuropsychological tests were conducted.
Results: Vitamin concentrations were higher in the supplemented groups than in the unsupplemented groups (P < 0.001; total n = 130). Compared with baseline, cobalamin in the supplemented groups was increased by 22%, plasma folate by 101%, red blood cell folate by 87%, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate by 68%. Concentrations in the unsupplemented groups changed by -2%, -6%, 1%, and -13%, respectively. Hcy decreased by 25% and MMA by 30% in the supplemented groups, compared with a small increase in Hcy (2%) and decrease in MMA (9%) in the unsupplemented groups. Exercise did not significantly affect vitamin, Hcy, or MMA concentrations. No significant effect of either intervention was observed on the neuropsychological tests.
Conclusions: The decrease in Hcy and MMA in frail elders confirms a subclinical metabolic deficiency state. Enriched foods containing physiologic amounts of micronutrients have a beneficial effect on these metabolites. No effects of B vitamins on mental health were identified.
Key Words: Frailty • elderly • intervention • enriched foods • exercise • homocysteine • methylmalonic acid • folate • vitamin B-12 • reaction time • micronutrients
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. J Eussen, L. C de Groot, L. W Joosten, R. J Bloo, R. Clarke, P. M Ueland, J. Schneede, H. J Blom, W. H Hoefnagels, and W. A van Staveren 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. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2006; 84(2): 361 - 370. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Bandeen-Roche, Q.-L. Xue, L. Ferrucci, J. Walston, J. M. Guralnik, P. Chaves, S. L. Zeger, and L. P. Fried Phenotype of Frailty: Characterization in the Women's Health and Aging Studies. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., March 1, 2006; 61(3): 262 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. J. P. M. Eussen, L. C. P. G. M. de Groot, R. Clarke, J. Schneede, P. M. Ueland, W. H. L. Hoefnagels, and W. A. van Staveren Oral Cyanocobalamin Supplementation in Older People With Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A Dose-Finding Trial Arch Intern Med, May 23, 2005; 165(10): 1167 - 1172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Wouters-Wesseling, L. W. Wagenaar, M. Rozendaal, J. B. Deijen, L. C. de Groot, J. G. Bindels, and W. A. van Staveren Effect of an Enriched Drink on Cognitive Function in Frail Elderly Persons J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., February 1, 2005; 60(2): 265 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Manders, L. C. P. G. M. de Groot, W. A. van Staveren, W. Wouters-Wesseling, A. J. M. J. Mulders, J. M. G. A. Schols, and W. H. L. Hoefnagels Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements on Cognitive Functioning in Elderly Persons: A Systematic Review J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., October 1, 2004; 59(10): M1041 - M1049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. H Ledikwe, H. Smiciklas-Wright, D. C Mitchell, G. L Jensen, J. M Friedmann, and C. D Still Nutritional risk assessment and obesity in rural older adults: a sex difference Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2003; 77(3): 551 - 558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. A. M. Dhonukshe-Rutten, M. Lips, N. de Jong, M. J. M. Chin A Paw, G. J. Hiddink, M. van Dusseldorp, L. C. P. G. M. de Groot, and W. A. van Staveren Vitamin B-12 Status Is Associated with Bone Mineral Content and Bone Mineral Density in Frail Elderly Women but Not in Men J. Nutr., March 1, 2003; 133(3): 801 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. de Jong, M. J. M. C. A Paw, C. de Graaf, G. J. Hiddink, L. de Groot, and W. A. van Staveren Appraisal of 4 Months' Consumption of Nutrient-Dense Foods within the Daily Feeding Pattern of Frail Elderly J Aging Health, May 1, 2001; 13(2): 200 - 216. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Clarke Prevention of vitamin B-12 deficiency in old age Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2001; 73(2): 151 - 152. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
