The effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on routine haematological parameters in older people: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_EA45D92D10F1
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on routine haematological parameters in older people: an individual participant data meta-analysis.
Journal
European journal of clinical nutrition
Author(s)
Smelt A.F., Gussekloo J., Bermingham L.W., Allen E., Dangour A.D., Eussen S.J., Favrat B., De Groot L.C., Kok F.J., Kwok T., Mangoni A.A., Ntaios G., Van De Rest O., Seal E., Vaucher P., Verhoef P., Stijnen T., Den Elzen W.P.
ISSN
1476-5640 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0954-3007
Publication state
Published
Issued date
06/2018
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
72
Number
6
Pages
785-795
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Meta-Analysis ; Systematic Review
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Low vitamin B12 and folate levels in community-dwelling older people are usually corrected with supplements. However, the effect of this supplementation on haematological parameters in older persons is not known. Therefore, we executed a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs).
We performed a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane and CENTRAL for RCTs published between January 1950 and April 2016, where community-dwelling elderly (60+ years) who were treated with vitamin B12 or folic acid or placebo. The presence of anaemia was not required. We analysed the data on haematological parameters with a two-stage IPD meta-analysis.
We found 494 full papers covering 14 studies. Data were shared by the authors of four RCTs comparing vitamin B12 with placebo (n = 343) and of three RCTs comparing folic acid with placebo (n = 929). We found no effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on haemoglobin (change 0.00 g/dL, 95% CI: -0.19;0.18), and no effect of folic acid supplementation (change -0.09 g/dL, 95% CI: -0.19;0.01). The effects of supplementation on other haematological parameters were similar. The effects did not differ by sex or by age group. Also, no effect was found in a subgroup of patients with anaemia and a subgroup of patients who were treated >4 weeks.
Evidence on the effects of supplementation of low concentrations of vitamin B12 and folate on haematological parameters in community-dwelling older people is inconclusive. Further research is needed before firm recommendations can be made concerning the supplementation of vitamin B12 and folate.
Keywords
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anemia/blood, Anemia/drug therapy, Female, Folic Acid/therapeutic use, Hemoglobins/analysis, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Vitamin B 12/therapeutic use
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
15/03/2018 19:17
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:12
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