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.

Study answer

What this study found

Oral vitamin B-12 with or without folic acid did not improve cognitive function over 24 weeks compared with placebo. Memory improved in all groups, but the placebo group improved more than the vitamin B-12 alone group for memory (P = 0.0036), and there was a significant time-by-treatment interaction for memory (P = 0.0142). No significant benefits were seen for attention, construction, sensomotor speed, or executive function. Among the six memory tests, significant effects were limited to digit span backward (P = 0.0014) and the 15 word learning recognition test (P = 0.0376); no adverse…

Study & population

Randomized, placebo-controlled trial in older adults aged 70 years and older with mild vitamin B-12 deficiency in the Netherlands.

Intervention

Participants received daily oral vitamin B-12 as cyanocobalamin, either 1000 micrograms alone or 1000 micrograms plus folic acid 400 micrograms, for 24 weeks.

Key limitation

The trial had a modest completion sample, with 31 participants unable to complete and analyses based on 162 completers.

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Original abstract