Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124801
Title: BREAKFAST CEREAL FORTIFIED WITH FOLIC ACID, AND VITAMINS B6 AND B12 IMPROVES PLASMA VITAMIN AND POST-METHIONINE LOAD TOTAL HOMOCYSTEINE (THCY) CONCENTRATIONS

Author
item TUCKER, KATHERINE - HNRCA
item OLSEN, BETH - KELLOGG CO.
item BAKUN, PETER - HNRCA
item DALLAL, GERARD - HNRCA
item ROSENBERG, IRWIN - HNRCA
item SELHUB, JACOB - HNRCA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2001
Publication Date: 7/1/2001
Citation: TUCKER, K.L., OLSEN, B., BAKUN, P., DALLAL, G.E., ROSENBERG, I.H., SELHUB, J. BREAKFAST CEREAL FORTIFIED WITH FOLIC ACID, AND VITAMINS B6 AND B12 IMPROVES PLASMA VITAMIN AND POST-METHIONINE LOAD TOTAL HOMOCYSTEINE (THCY) CONCENTRATIONS. MEETING ABSTRACT. 2001;Program Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A major cause of vitamin B12 deficiency among elders is atrophic gastritis, a common condition leading to impaired absorption of protein- bound B12. Vitamin B12 added to fortified breakfast cereals should be more available than that bound in food. We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial to determine the efficacy of fortified cereal to improve B12 status in 201 volunteers, aged 60+ years. Exclusion criteria included use of multi- or B vitamins or regular use of super-fortified cereals during the past 3 months. After a washout period of 2 weeks with no cereal, we provided one group with cereal fortified with 100% of the USRDA of vitamins B12, B6 and folic acid; and the other group with an indistinguishable cereal without these added vitamins. Participants were asked to consume one serving per day for 12 weeks and to avoid nutrient supplements and other breakfast cereals during the study. Blood was drawn at weeks 0 and 2, prior to cereal use; and at weeks 10 and 12. Plasma B12 was determined by radioassay, using a kit from Ciba-Corning. The first 2 measures were averaged to obtain a stable baseline and the 2 measures near the end of the study were averaged as follow-up values. Change scores were compared using Student's t-test for independent samples. At baseline, plasma B12 concentrations were 404 and 398 pg/mL for treatment and control groups, respectively. After 10-12 weeks of cereal consumption, B12 concentrations were 484 and 398 pg/mL, showing a significant increase in the group consuming fortified cereal, compared with no change in controls (p<0.000). Breakfast cereal fortified with vitamin B12 is an effective way to improve B12 status in older individuals.