TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on routine haematological parameters in older people: an individual participant data meta-analysis
AU - Smelt, Antonia
AU - Gussekloo, Jacobijn
AU - Bermingham, Lynette
AU - Allen, Elizabeth
AU - Dangour, Alan
AU - Eussen, Simone
AU - Favrat, Bernard
AU - De Groot, Lisette
AU - Kok, Frans
AU - Kwok, Timothy
AU - Mangoni, Arduino
AU - Ntaios, George
AU - De Rest, Ondine
AU - Seal, Eric
AU - Vaucher, Paul
AU - Verhoef, Petra
AU - Stijnen, Theo
AU - Deb Elzen, Wendy
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Background/objectives: 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). Subjects/methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.
AB - Background/objectives: 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). Subjects/methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0118-x
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85043327416&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41430-018-0118-x
DO - 10.1038/s41430-018-0118-x
M3 - Review article
SN - 0954-3007
VL - 72
SP - 785
EP - 795
JO - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
IS - 6
ER -