Folate, Vitamin B12, and MTHFR
Posted 22 April 2012 - 12:29 PM
Posted 22 April 2012 - 06:47 PM
You're right to seek more information. For one thing, some people with PD who have used levodopa for an extended period develop elevated serum homocysteine, a substance commonly found in the blood after a meal. It is normally cleared away by B12, B6, and folic acid. If it remains elevated it is associated with risk for stroke, and heart disease. In any case, deficiencies of B12 and folate are of concern for anyone. I will separately post a short article on the importance of these vitamins in PD.
Regarding your levels, a test can be conducted by your primary care physician by drawing a blood sample from your arm. For serum B12, the test is for Methylmalonic Acid. Most labs consider a range of 210 - 911 pg/mL to be within normal limits.
For folate, either serum or red blood cell folate levels may be tested; if either is low, it indicates a deficiency. Normal levels are generally considered to be 2.8 - 40 ng/mL.
If either is elevated, discuss a test for serum homocysteine. Normal levels are usually considered to be 4 - 12 umol/L
If a deficiency is present, your doctor will discuss the best way to supplement, depending upon the degree of deficiency. Usually supplements are sufficient; in rare cases of extreme deficiency, intramuscular injections may be needed.
Check this forum for a message on B vitamins related to PD; I will post it shortly.
Posted 22 April 2012 - 06:50 PM
Kathrynne Holden, MS
In the past decade, there has been increasing interest among
researchers about the effects of three B vitamins - B6, B12, and folate.
We now know that deficiencies occur with greater frequency than ever
suspected previously, particularly in older adults. We also now know
that deficiencies, if not corrected, can result in irreversible damage
in some people. Some health professionals are beginning to suspect that
these three vitamins may be significant factors in Parkinson's disease.
What are B6, B12, and folate, and what do they do?
These are essential nutrients, meaning that they are vital to life.
These three vitamins work both independently and together in many of the
Vitamin B6 assists in making hormones, new proteins, and
neurotransmitters ("messengers" between nerve cells) for the body's use.
It also helps release stored sugar when we need it for fuel. It works
together with B12 and folate to remove homocysteine from the blood.
Homocysteine is a substance increasingly associated with a number of
diseases; more about this later.
Vitamin B12 plays a role in the synthesis of DNA, needed for formation
of new red blood cells. It takes part in the manufacture of the myelin
sheath - the protective coating that surrounds nerve cells. With B6 and
folate it removes homocysteine from the blood.
Folate, also called folacin or folic acid, is a partner with B12 in DNA
synthesis and in removal of homocysteine, and is required in many other
vital processes. Without folate, B12 would be unable to complete many of
its functions, and vice versa. Folate is the form found in foods, folic
acid is the form in dietary supplements.
How much do we need of these vitamins?
Nutrient needs are broken down by gender, age group, pregnancy, and
lactation. New guidelines have also established a Tolerable Upper Intake
Level. So, for example, while the RDA for vitamin B6 for males and
females age 19-30 years is 1.3 mg/day, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level
for both is 100 mg/day, making it easier to provide recommended amounts.
RDA* Tolerable Upper Intake Level ** +
Vitamin B6*** + 1.7 mg/day 100 mg/day (age 19 and older)
Vitamin B12 + 2.4 mcg/day Not Determined
Folate + 400 mcg/day 1000 mcg/day
* Recommended Dietary Allowance
** The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the maximum level of daily
nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects, and
represents the total intake from food, water, and supplements.
*** Adults age 51 and older
+ not applicable if pregnant or lactating
Why do deficiencies occur, and what are signs of deficiencies?
Vitamin B6. Mild deficiencies of B6 are fairly common in the U.S.,
mostly because of dietary deficiencies, but sometimes due to use of
certain medications which interfere with B6, including hydralazine,
isoniazid, MAO inhibitors, penicillamine, and theophylline. (Conversely,
large amounts of B6 can interfere with the absorption of levodopa, an
important medication for Parkinson's disease. Current use of the
combinations of carbidopa-levodopa or benserazide-levodopa offset this
interaction for the most part; but use of supplements containing more
than 15 mg of B6 can overwhelm the protective effects of the carbidopa
Good food sources of B6 include chicken, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds,
dried beans and peas, soybeans, wheat germ, bananas, avocados, and
brewer's yeast. Also, some foods, including a number of breakfast
cereals, are fortified with B6.
Signs of B6 deficiency include irritability, depression, and confusion;
sore tongue, sores or ulcers of the mouth, and ulcers of the skin at the
corners of the mouth.
Vitamin B12. The human body stores this vitamin so well that it can
take a long time to deplete, sometimes several years. Nevertheless,
there are several reasons why people sometimes do experience deficiency.
Animal foods are the only source of B12, therefore people who eat few or
no animal products (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk) are at risk unless
they use vitamin supplements.
Another problem is that B12 in foods cannot be absorbed by the body
until it is freed from the proteins in the food; the stomach produces an
acid that removes this protein. However, with age, we produce less and
less of this stomach acid. Many older adults don't produce enough acid
to allow them to absorb B12. Further, people who have acid reflux often
use medications that reduce stomach acid, which unfortunately also
decreases absorption of B12. Vitamin B12 is one of the few nutrients
that is better absorbed in pill form than from dietary sources.
Signs of B12 deficiency include numbness or a tingling "pins and
needles" sensation, or a burning feeling; a red, sore, or burning
tongue; loss of appetite; gait abnormalities, personality changes, an
Alzheimer-like dementia, psychosis, depression, and agitation,
particularly in older adults. Other signs are megaloblastic anemia, and
elevated serum homocysteine, in people of all ages. Researchers believe
that as many as 42% of people aged 65 and older may have some degree of
B12 deficiency. Many people with PD are age 65 or older, and should be
considered at risk and tested for B12 deficiency.
Folate. Folate is available in many foods: lima beans, brewer's yeast,
orange juice, dried beans, green peas, asparagus, beets, Brussels
sprouts, broccoli, corn, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables,
soybeans, nuts and seeds. Further, the U.S. government requires that
food manufacturers fortify processed grain products with folic acid.
Yet, deficiencies of folate are not uncommon. This could be in part
because folate is another of the few nutrients in which the synthetic
form is absorbed much better (about 40 percent better) than the natural
Because of the possibility of deficiency, women, including women with
PD, who are pregnant or wish to become pregnant are advised to take
supplements of folic acid; deficiencies can result in neural tube
defects in the unborn child.
Deficiencies of folate are also being increasingly studied for a
possible role in other diseases:
. A low intake of folic acid is associated with risk for colon cancer.
Chronic constipation, experienced by many people with PD, also increases
risk for colon cancer; it is prudent for those with PD to control
constipation and to be sure the diet is adequate in folate.
. A low level of folic acid in the blood is associated with higher
levels of serum homocysteine, a substance in the blood that may
contribute to heart disease, stroke, and dementias.
. Animal studies point to a link between low levels of folic acid and
Alzheimer's disease; and people with Alzheimer's are often found to have
low levels of folic acid. Some people with PD develop an Alzheimer-type
dementia. Again, prudence dictates consumption of adequate folate.
. Another study using mice found that folic acid deficiency led to
increased levels of homocysteine and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers speculate that homocysteine may damage DNA in the substantia
nigra, the area of the brain affected in Parkinson's disease.
. There are reports of improvement in restless leg syndrome (RLS) with
use of folate supplements; this has not as yet been studied thoroughly,
so it is too early to say whether there is a definite link. However,
people with PD often complain of RLS, and physicians should rule out the
possibility of folic acid deficiency.
Signs of folic acid deficiency include appetite loss, weight loss,
burning tongue, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breach, memory loss,
irritability, megaloblastic anemia, and increased levels of serum
Should people with PD be concerned about these vitamins?
Although there are concerns, as mentioned above, that deserve further
study, it's too early to say definitely that these three vitamins are of
significance to people with PD. However, if you are over age 50 these
vitamins are of importance independently of PD. Furthermore, studies
have demonstrated that some people who use levodopa, considered the best
medication for PD, develop elevated levels of serum homocysteine, due to
the way in which the medication is metabolized. It is certainly a good
idea to ask your doctor to test levels of serum homocysteine annually,
and to check for signs of B vitamin deficiencies.
Should you take supplements?
There is growing agreement that older adults are at risk for nutrient
deficiency, whether PD is present or not, and that supplements can help.
. One study of older adults found that a multivitamin containing 100% of
the Daily Value improved low levels of several nutrients, including
vitamins B6, B12, and folate.
. A recent study in the United Kingdom suggests that folic acid intake
should be about three times that of the current recommendation for
. Other studies indicate that up to 10% of older adults with low-normal
levels of B12 are actually deficient and could benefit from supplements.
Because folate supplements can mask a B12 deficiency, it becomes extra
important to get enough B12 daily.
. The American Heart Association recommends a folate-rich diet to lower
homocysteine levels, and supplements of 2 mg B6, 400 mcg folic acid, and
6 mcg of B12 if dietary means are not sufficient to lower the
For people with PD who use a medication that contains levodopa (such as
Sinemet, Madopar, Syndopa, Larodopa, etc.), you should be aware that
large amounts of vitamin B6 (more than 15 mg) can affect the absorption
of levodopa, by converting levodopa to dopamine in the stomach and
bloodstream. Dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, so it is
effectively blocked from its purpose.
Sinemet and Madopar contain either carbidopa or benserazide, which
"protect" the levodopa from B6; so ordinary supplements of B6 should not
be a problem for most people. However, very large amounts of B6, greater
than 15 mg (and in sensitive persons, possibly as low as 10 mg), could
overwhelm the protective effects of the carbidopa or benserazide. Such a
supplement should be taken at bedtime with a light snack, or with meals
at least two hours separately from levodopa.
In summary, older adults are acknowledged to be at increased risk for B
vitamin deficiencies. People with PD who are age 50 and over, therefore,
are at increased risk also. Whether younger people with PD should be
concerned about such deficiencies remains to be seen. A prudent and
rational approach for all those with PD is to:
. Discuss the possibility with their physicians, and to request tests
for B vitamin deficiencies
. Be aware of the signs of B vitamin deficiency
. Take a multivitamin/mineral supplement daily. Unless anemic, choose a
supplement that does not contain iron
. Take a B complex supplement if deficiencies occur; and take the
supplement separately from levodopa by at least two hours, preferably
with meals or a snack.
Knowledge is strength; awareness of dietary needs can prevent illness,
malnutrition, suffering, and hospitalization. If you have questions
about B vitamins or other nutrition or dietary needs, please visit the
National Parkinson Foundation website:
<http://www.parkinson.org and click on "Ask About Nutrition."
The above article may not be reproduced in any form except with
permission from the author.
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Posted 22 April 2012 - 06:52 PM
by Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
What is homocysteine?
Homocysteine is an amino acid found in the bloodstream; it is naturally
produced in small amounts by the human body from its precursor,
methionine. The body also removes homocysteine from the blood, using the B
vitamins folate, B12, and B6. An amount of homocysteine between 5 and 15
micromoles per liter of blood is considered normal; amounts greater than
that are considered "hyperhomocysteinemia" or elevated homocysteine.
Why is elevated homocysteine a problem?
The relationship between homocysteine and diseases is not clearly
understood at this time. However, researchers have discovered that
homocysteine can prevent the formation of nitric oxide, a substance that
keeps blood vessels pliable and prevents formation of atherosclerosis.
Thus, homocysteine could be implicated in cardiovascular disease, strokes,
and heart attacks.
Homocysteine may also be associated with memory impairment. In a study of
elderly individuals, elevated homocysteine was associated with cognitive
impairment (poorer ability to read, learn, remember, and understand) while
high levels of folate and vitamin B12 were associated with improved
cognition. Other researchers studied 1092 people aged 68 to 97, and found
that those whose homocysteine levels were over 14 micromoles per liter had
twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as those with lower
The findings are based on a study of 1,092 people from
68 to 97 who were initially healthy and free of dementia. Their
homocysteine levels were measured and their health was monitored for
eight years. At the end of the study, 111 individuals had dementia,
including 83 with Alzheimer's. People whose homocysteine levels were
higher than 14 micromoles per liter of blood, one- fourth of the
participants, had nearly twice the Alzheimer's risk of those with lower
What about people with Parkinson's disease?
Some scientists found that people with PD who had been using levodopa for
some time had higher levels of homocysteine than newly-diagnosed PD
patients who had not begun treatment with levodopa. In another study,
using mice, researchers found that on a low-folate diet the mice had
increased levels of homocysteine. They speculate that increased
homocysteine can worsen oxidative stress on the neurons that produce
dopamine, and make them more easily damaged by environmental toxins.
Some degree of cognitive impairment, ranging from mild memory loss to
various types of dementias, is common among people with PD, more so than
in the general population. While not all cognitive impairment is related
to nutrient deficiency, some cases may well be, especially as people with
PD often change their eating habits in unsatisfactory ways.
In an article "Homocysteine and Atherosclerotic Heart Disease: A New and
'Unusual Suspect,'" Michelle Taylor-Chinn writes:
..... clinicians are advised to assess fasting homocysteine levels only
in high-risk patients -- including those with arterial occlusive disease,
hypothyroidism, impaired kidney function, systemic lupus erythematosus, or
a significant family history of premature atherosclerosis. Elderly
patients should also be considered for testing, as should patients who
receive certain medications or therapy (eg, theophylline, methotrexate,
levodopa, niacin [vitamin B3], nitrous oxide exposure). [Clinician Reviews
10(10):45-57, 2000. © 2000 Clinicians Publishing Group]
Because many people with PD meet one or more of these risk factors
(i.e., age, use of levodopa, and possibly other conditions), I recommend
that you discuss testing for homocysteine with your physician. Older
people in particular may not absorb vitamin B12 sufficiently from food,
and should be assessed for possible deficiency. I also advise an eating
pattern that includes vegetables, whole-grain and fortified breads and
cereals, fruits, dried beans, peas, and lentils, and fish.
-- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
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Posted 23 April 2012 - 02:15 PM
Posted 24 April 2012 - 04:15 PM
Should supplements be advised, I doubt that intramuscular injections would be warranted at this time. I would ask your physician to recommend a type or brand for your particular needs, but it is likely that brands containing activated methylcobalamin and methyl tetrahydrofolatesuch would be good choices. In a recent study, sublingual cyanocobalamin and nutritional yeast both repleted B12 satisfactorily.
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