Low vitamin B-12 status in confirmed Alzheimer's disease as revealed by serum holotranscobalamin.

Journal article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible association of holotranscobalamin, the active fraction of serum cobalamin, with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: 51 patients with pathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease and 65 cognitively screened elderly controls were studied. Serum holotranscobalamin was measured by a new solid phase radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Geometric mean levels showed no significant case-control differences for serum total cobalamin, but lower levels of holotranscobalamin in Alzheimer's disease (41.1 pmol/l) than in controls (57.1 pmol/l) (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of Alzheimer's disease was significant for low holotranscobalamin but not for low total cobalamin. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed cobalamin status is common in Alzheimer's disease and accordingly measurement of holotranscobalamin should be considered in the assessment of cognitively impaired patients.

Authors: Refsum, H; Smith, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 959-961
• Publication date: 2003-07-01
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.74.7.959
• EISSN: 1468-330X
• ISSN: 0022-3050
• Language: English
• Keywords: Female; Transcobalamins; Vitamin B 12; Alzheimer Disease; Male; Radioimmunoassay; Aged; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Humans