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30-01-2023 | Folic Acid | Original Contribution

Effects of low-dose B vitamins plus betaine supplementation on lowering homocysteine concentrations among Chinese adults with hyperhomocysteinemia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled preliminary clinical trial

Authors: Xiao-Ting Lu, Yi-Na Wang, Qi-Wan Mo, Bi-Xia Huang, Yu-Fang Wang, Zi-Hui Huang, Yan Luo, Wusiman Maierhaba, Tong-Tong He, Shu-Yi Li, Rong-Zhu Huang, Meng-Tao Yang, Xiao-Zhan Liu, Zhao-Yan Liu, Si Chen, Ai-Ping Fang, Xu-Guang Zhang, Hui-Lian Zhu

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 4/2023

Abstract

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that daily supplementation with low-dose B vitamins plus betaine could significantly reduce plasma homocysteine concentrations in Chinese adults with hyperhomocysteinemia and free from background mandatory folic acid fortification.

Methods

One hundred apparently healthy adults aged 18–65 years with hyperhomocysteinemia were recruited in South China from July 2019 to June 2021. They were randomly assigned to either the supplement group (daily supplementation: 400 μg folic acid, 8 mg vitamin B₆, 6.4 μg vitamin B₁₂ and 1 g betaine) or the placebo group for 12 weeks. Fasting venous blood was collected at baseline, week 4 and week 12 to determine the concentrations of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B₁₂ and betaine. Generalized estimation equations were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Statistically significant increments in blood concentrations of folate, vitamin B₁₂ and betaine after the intervention in the supplement group indicated good participant compliance. At baseline, there were no significant differences in plasma homocysteine concentration between the two groups (P = 0.265). After 12-week supplementation, compared with the placebo group, there was a significant reduction in plasma homocysteine concentrations in the supplement group (mean group difference − 3.87; covariate-adjusted P = 0.012; reduction rate 10.1%; covariate-adjusted P < 0.001). In the supplement group, the decreased concentration of plasma homocysteine was associated with increments of blood concentrations of both folate (β = –1.680, P = 0.004) and betaine (β = –1.421, P = 0.020) after 12 weeks of supplementation.

Conclusions

Daily supplementation with low-dose B vitamins plus betaine for 12 weeks effectively decreased plasma homocysteine concentrations in Chinese adults with hyperhomocysteinemia.

Trial registration

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03720249 on October 25, 2018. Website:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03720249 .

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Title: Effects of low-dose B vitamins plus betaine supplementation on lowering homocysteine concentrations among Chinese adults with hyperhomocysteinemia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled preliminary clinical trial
Authors: Xiao-Ting Lu
Yi-Na Wang
Qi-Wan Mo
Bi-Xia Huang
Yu-Fang Wang
Zi-Hui Huang
Yan Luo
Wusiman Maierhaba
Tong-Tong He
Shu-Yi Li
Rong-Zhu Huang
Meng-Tao Yang
Xiao-Zhan Liu
Zhao-Yan Liu
Si Chen
Ai-Ping Fang
Xu-Guang Zhang
Hui-Lian Zhu
Publication date: 30-01-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Folic Acid
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 4/2023
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03087-y

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