Effects of folic acid supplementation on psychomotor performance and hemorheology in healthy elderly subjects
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is associated with increased blood concentrations of homocysteine and high blood viscosity. Previous studies have shown that vitamin B supplementation reduces homocysteine and enhances cognitive function in patients with mild dementia and low serum folic acid. However, whether folic acid enhances cognitive function in elderly subjects without dementia and normal serum folic acid is unknown. Twenty-four healthy elderly subjects (age 73.0+/-5.6 years, mean+/-S.D.) with normal serum folic acid (6.3+/-2.4 microg/l) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) >27/30 were randomized to 4-week treatment with folic acid 5mg/day or placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Continuous Attention Test (CAT), Four-Choice Reaction Time (FCRT), Digit-Symbol Substitution (DSS), Scanning Memory Sets (SMS), and blood viscosity for different shear rates were measured before and after treatment. Folic acid supplementation induced a significant increase in serum folic acid levels (+13.8 versus +1.6 microg/l, p<0.001) and fall in homocysteine levels (-1.91 versus -0.41 micromol/l, p=0.05) compared to placebo. However, there was no significant change in CAT, FCRT, DSS, SMS, and blood viscosity between the two groups. Short-term folic acid supplementation does not enhance psychomotor performance or reduce blood viscosity in healthy elderly subjects with normal serum folic acid levels and preserved cognitive function.
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No effect of 5 mg/day folic acid was found in another trial in 24 healthy elderly subjects; these subjects had normal cognitive function and normal blood folate levels at baseline, suggesting they may not have been in a position to benefit from supplementation.
“Conversely, no effect of 5 mg/day of folic acid was found in another trial in 24 healthy elderly subjects. However, these subjects had a normal cognitive function and normal blood folate levels at baseline, suggesting that they may not have been in a position to benefit from supplementation [200].”
From Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence (2020) · cites this paper as [200]
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- Authors
- Pathansali, R., Mangoni, A. A., Creagh-Brown, B., Lan, Z.-C., Ngow, G.-L., Yuan, X.-F., Ouldred, E. L., Sherwood, R. A., Swift, C. G., & Jackson, S. H. D.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- Flinders University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Mangoni, Arduino A.
- Venue
- Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-07
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 127-137
- ISSN
- 0167-4943 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1977463589
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research (University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Flinders Academic Commons (Flinders University) (submittedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Keywords
- folic acid supplementation, psychomotor performance, hemorheology, blood viscosity, homocysteine, cognitive function, older adults, healthy aging, vitamin B supplementation, reaction time, Digit Symbol Substitution Test
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Blood Viscosity, Female, Folic Acid, Hematinics, Humans, Male, Psychomotor Performance, Hemorheology, Dietary Supplements
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