USDA Pushes Ahead on Research of B Vitamins and
Their Impact on Aging Brains
Ongoing research takes a closer look at role these
nutrients may play in preventing decline in brain function of elderly;
depression in women
A
protein known as holoTC, short for holotranscobalamin, might be
key to a new approach to detect cognitive decline earlier and
more accurately, according to a study in which ARS collaborated.
Aug. 17, 2010 - B vitaminsB-6, B-12 and folateall
nourish the brain. Ongoing research indicates lower levels of these B
vitamins may enhance dementia, cognitive decline and even depression in
senior citizens.
The research has been encouraged by the Department
of Agriculture (USDA), because the agency feels much remains to be
discovered about the relation between these essential nutrients and
brainpower.
According to Lindsay H. Allen, USDA nutritionist,
the research is needed because many studies of B vitamins and brain
function have given inconsistent or conflicting results.
Allen is
director of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Western Human
Nutrition Research Center in Davis, Calif. ARS is the chief intramural
scientific research agency of USDA. Scientists from the University of
California-Davis (UCD) and the UCD Medical Center also are collaborating
in the research.
Allen has collaborated in ongoing research that has
taken a closer look at the role these nutrients may play in preventing
decline in brain function.
The investigations, led by Mary N. Haan of the
University of California-San Francisco, are part of the multiyear
Sacramento (Calif.) Area Latino Study on Aging, or "SALSA." Begun in
1996, the study attracted nearly 1,800 Hispanic seniors, ages 60 to 101,
as volunteers.
An analysis of volunteers' blood samples showed
that lower levels of one B vitamin, folate, were associated with
symptoms of dementia and poor brain function, also called "cognitive
decline," as determined by standard tests of memory and other factors.
The impairments were detectable even though less than 1 percent of the
volunteers were actually deficient in folate.
Low Levels of Folate and Depression in Women
In women, but not men, low levels of folate were
associated with symptoms of depression. In fact, female volunteers whose
plasma folate levels were in the lowest third were more than twice as
likely to have symptoms of depression as volunteers in the highest
third. That finding provided new evidence of an association between
lower blood folate and depression. Depression is already known to affect
brain function.
In research with vitamin B-12, the SALSA team also
determined that a protein known as holoTC, short for holotranscobalamin,
might be key to a new approach for detecting cognitive decline earlier
and more accurately.
The researchers have published these and other
findings, beginning in 2003 and continuing through this year, in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Clinical Chemistry and
Laboratory Medicine, The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, The
Journal of Nutrition, and The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging.
These vitamins help the process your body uses to
get or make energy from the food you eat. They also help form red blood
cells. You can get B vitamins from proteins such as fish, poultry, meat,
eggs, and dairy products. Leafy green vegetables, beans, and peas also
have B vitamins. Many cereals and some breads have added B vitamins.
Not getting enough of certain B vitamins can cause
diseases. A lack of B12 or B6 can cause
anemia.
Even if you eat a wide variety of foods, how can
you be sure that you are getting all the vitamins, minerals, and other
nutrients you need as you get older? If you are over 50, your
nutritional needs may change. Informed food choices are the first place
to start, making sure you get a variety of foods while watching your
calorie intake. Supplements and fortified foods may also help you get
appropriate amounts of nutrients. To help you make informed decisions,
talk to your doctor and/or registered dietitian. They can work together
with you to determine if your intake of a specific nutrient might be too
low or too high and then decide how you can achieve a balance between
the foods and nutrients you personally need.
