Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation and cognitive function: a systematic review of randomized trials.
Arch Intern Med. 2007 Jan 08; 167(1):21-30.AI

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Despite their important role in cognitive function, the value of B vitamin supplementation is unknown. A systematic review of the effect of pyridoxine hydrochloride (hereinafter "vitamin B(6)"), cyanocobalamin or hydroxycobalamin (hereinafter "vitamin B(12)"), and folic acid supplementation on cognitive function was performed.

METHODS

Literature search conducted in MEDLINE with supplemental articles from reviews and domain experts. We included English language randomized controlled trials of vitamins B(6) and/or B(12) and/or folic acid supplementation with cognitive function outcomes.

RESULTS

Fourteen trials met our criteria; most were of low quality and limited applicability. Approximately 50 different cognitive function tests were assessed. Three trials of vitamin B(6) and 6 of vitamin B(12) found no effect overall in a variety of doses, routes of administration, and populations. One of 3 trials of folic acid found a benefit in cognitive function in people with cognitive impairment and low baseline serum folate levels. Six trials of combinations of the B vitamins all concluded that the interventions had no effect on cognitive function. Among 3 trials, those in the placebo arm had greater improvements in a small number of cognitive tests than participants receiving either folic acid or combination B-vitamin supplements. The evidence was limited by a sparsity of studies, small sample size, heterogeneity in outcomes, and a lack of studies that evaluated symptoms or clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The evidence does not yet provide adequate evidence of an effect of vitamin B(6) or B(12) or folic acid supplementation, alone or in combination, on cognitive function testing in people with either normal or impaired cognitive function.

Links

Publisher Full Text
Aggregator Full Text

Authors+Show Affiliations

Balk EM
Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Boston, MA 02111, USA. ebalk@tufts-nemc.org
Raman G
No affiliation info available
Tatsioni A
No affiliation info available
Chung M
No affiliation info available
Lau J
No affiliation info available
Rosenberg IH
No affiliation info available

MeSH

CognitionCognition DisordersDietary SupplementsFolic AcidHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeVitamin B 12Vitamin B 6Vitamin B Complex

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Review
Systematic Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17210874

Clinical Trial Links

Ketamine and Changes of the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire

Citation

Balk, Ethan M., et al. "Vitamin B6, B12, and Folic Acid Supplementation and Cognitive Function: a Systematic Review of Randomized Trials." Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 167, no. 1, 2007, pp. 21-30.
Balk EM, Raman G, Tatsioni A, et al. Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation and cognitive function: a systematic review of randomized trials. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(1):21-30.
Balk, E. M., Raman, G., Tatsioni, A., Chung, M., Lau, J., & Rosenberg, I. H. (2007). Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation and cognitive function: a systematic review of randomized trials. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(1), 21-30.
Balk EM, et al. Vitamin B6, B12, and Folic Acid Supplementation and Cognitive Function: a Systematic Review of Randomized Trials. Arch Intern Med. 2007 Jan 8;167(1):21-30. PubMed PMID: 17210874.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation and cognitive function: a systematic review of randomized trials. AU - Balk,Ethan M, AU - Raman,Gowri, AU - Tatsioni,Athina, AU - Chung,Mei, AU - Lau,Joseph, AU - Rosenberg,Irwin H, PY - 2007/1/11/pubmed PY - 2007/1/26/medline PY - 2007/1/11/entrez SP - 21 EP - 30 JF - Archives of internal medicine JO - Arch Intern Med VL - 167 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite their important role in cognitive function, the value of B vitamin supplementation is unknown. A systematic review of the effect of pyridoxine hydrochloride (hereinafter "vitamin B(6)"), cyanocobalamin or hydroxycobalamin (hereinafter "vitamin B(12)"), and folic acid supplementation on cognitive function was performed. METHODS: Literature search conducted in MEDLINE with supplemental articles from reviews and domain experts. We included English language randomized controlled trials of vitamins B(6) and/or B(12) and/or folic acid supplementation with cognitive function outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen trials met our criteria; most were of low quality and limited applicability. Approximately 50 different cognitive function tests were assessed. Three trials of vitamin B(6) and 6 of vitamin B(12) found no effect overall in a variety of doses, routes of administration, and populations. One of 3 trials of folic acid found a benefit in cognitive function in people with cognitive impairment and low baseline serum folate levels. Six trials of combinations of the B vitamins all concluded that the interventions had no effect on cognitive function. Among 3 trials, those in the placebo arm had greater improvements in a small number of cognitive tests than participants receiving either folic acid or combination B-vitamin supplements. The evidence was limited by a sparsity of studies, small sample size, heterogeneity in outcomes, and a lack of studies that evaluated symptoms or clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The evidence does not yet provide adequate evidence of an effect of vitamin B(6) or B(12) or folic acid supplementation, alone or in combination, on cognitive function testing in people with either normal or impaired cognitive function. SN - 0003-9926 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/17210874/Vitamin_B6_B12_and_folic_acid_supplementation_and_cognitive_function:_a_systematic_review_of_randomized_trials_ L2 - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/10.1001/archinte.167.1.21 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -