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- Hagnelius, Nils-Olof, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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High homocysteine and methylmalonate among demented and non-demented elderly receiving vitamin-B12 prescription and home help service
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background & Aims: Total homocysteine (tHcy) has been suggested as a dementia risk factor. Our aim was to investigate potential differences in tHcy and its determinants (mainly Serum-B12 and Serum-folate) in relation dementia. We examined the effect of vitamin-B12 prescription, whether a family history of dementia, or the need for home help service might have influence on tHcy.Methods: A cross sectional monocenter study comprising 926 consecutive subjects attending our Memory Care Unit.Results: Demented subjects being prescribed vitamin-B12 had higher Serum-B12 (p =0.025) but also higher tHcy (p =<0.001) and S-methylmalonate (p =0.032), and lower Serum-folate (p<0.001) than those who did not receive B12 prescriptions. tHcy levels were higher in subjects in need of home help service (non-dementia: p= 0.007), this group also had lower S-albumin (dementia: p<0.001; non-dementia: p=0.004). In multivariate logistic regression analysis with diagnosis of dementia as outcome, both vitamin-B12 prescriptions, family history of dementia, and existent home help service, predicted dementia (p=0.037; 0.044; 0.002 respectively).Conclusion: Elderly subjects on vitamin-B12 prescription appear to have unmet needs of nutritional support, causing elevated homocysteine levels. The home help service should pay a closer attention to nutritional aspects and drug compliance among geriatric patients.
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