January 31, 2007 – Folic acid (vitamin B9) may help counter the cognitive decline associated with aging.
A team of researchers from the Netherlands conducted a clinical trial with 800 subjects (aged 50 to 70). Supplementing with folic acid improved memory and information processing speed in treated subjects compared to those given placebo1.
In various tests to measure their intellectual faculties, subjects who had taken the supplement for three years had, on average, results similar to those who would have been one and a half years younger. For tests that focused on memory only, the same participants had a similar result to individuals who would have been five years younger.
The same team of researchers recently published results indicating that a vitamin B9 supplement may slow hearing decline in aging people.2.
This work focused on subjects specifically selected for their high homocysteine level. However, folic acid has the effect of lowering the blood levels of this amino acid. Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disorders, which may lead to the decline of the nerve cells responsible for the proper functioning of the hearing system and intellectual faculties with age. The state of health of the subjects therefore explains the positive results obtained by the Dutch researchers.
It should be noted that these researchers wish to convince the medical authorities of the Netherlands to adopt a policy aimed at fortifying certain staple foods with vitamin B9. Several countries, including Canada and the United States, fortify white flour with folic acid for public health reasons. Researchers want to show that there are several advantages to promoting better folic acid intake, especially in the elderly.
Vitamin B9 deficiency is rather rare, especially in countries that systematically fortify white flour with folic acid.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC.
1. Durga J, van Boxtel MP, et al. Effect of 3-year folic acid supplementation on cognitive function in older adults in the FACIT trial: a randomized, double blind, controlled trial. Lancet. 2007 Jan 20; 369 (9557): 208-16.
2. Durga J, Verhoef P, et al. Effects of folic acid supplementation on hearing in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Jan 2; 146 (1): 1-9.
