Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background/Aims. Low serum folate levels can alter inflammatory reactions. Both phenomena have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the effect of folic acid on AD itself is unclear. We quantified folate supplementation’s effect on inflammation and cognitive function in patients with AD over...

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Main Authors: Hui Chen, Shuai Liu, Lu Ji, Tianfeng Wu, Yong Ji, Yuying Zhou, Miaoyan Zheng, Meilin Zhang, Weili Xu, Guowei Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5912146
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author Hui Chen
Shuai Liu
Lu Ji
Tianfeng Wu
Yong Ji
Yuying Zhou
Miaoyan Zheng
Meilin Zhang
Weili Xu
Guowei Huang
author_facet Hui Chen
Shuai Liu
Lu Ji
Tianfeng Wu
Yong Ji
Yuying Zhou
Miaoyan Zheng
Meilin Zhang
Weili Xu
Guowei Huang
author_sort Hui Chen
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aims. Low serum folate levels can alter inflammatory reactions. Both phenomena have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the effect of folic acid on AD itself is unclear. We quantified folate supplementation’s effect on inflammation and cognitive function in patients with AD over the course of 6 months. Methods. Patients newly diagnosed with AD (age > 60 years; n=121; mild to severe; international criteria) and being treated with donepezil were randomly assigned into two groups with (intervention group) or without (control group) supplemental treatment with folic acid (1.25 mg/d) for 6 months. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered to all patients at baseline and follow-up, and blood samples were taken before and after treatment. We quantified serum folate, amyloid beta (Aβ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), plasma homocysteine (Hcy), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and the mRNA levels of presenilin (PS), IL-6, and TNFα in leukocytes. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures mixed model. Results. The mean MMSE was slightly increased in the intervention group compared to that in the control group (P<0.05). Posttreatment, plasma SAM and SAM/SAH levels were significantly higher (P<0.05), while Aβ40, PS1-mRNA, and TNFα-mRNA levels were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0.05). The Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was also higher in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusions. Folic acid is beneficial in patients with AD. Inflammation may play an important role in the interaction between folic acid and AD. This trial is registered with clinical trial registration number ChiCTR-TRC-13003246.
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spelling doaj-art-e8dbf2a65e8b442885ece97e16cb6ff02025-02-03T01:30:52ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612016-01-01201610.1155/2016/59121465912146Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled TrialHui Chen0Shuai Liu1Lu Ji2Tianfeng Wu3Yong Ji4Yuying Zhou5Miaoyan Zheng6Meilin Zhang7Weili Xu8Guowei Huang9School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, ChinaMetabolic Diseases Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaAging Research Centre, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaBackground/Aims. Low serum folate levels can alter inflammatory reactions. Both phenomena have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the effect of folic acid on AD itself is unclear. We quantified folate supplementation’s effect on inflammation and cognitive function in patients with AD over the course of 6 months. Methods. Patients newly diagnosed with AD (age > 60 years; n=121; mild to severe; international criteria) and being treated with donepezil were randomly assigned into two groups with (intervention group) or without (control group) supplemental treatment with folic acid (1.25 mg/d) for 6 months. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered to all patients at baseline and follow-up, and blood samples were taken before and after treatment. We quantified serum folate, amyloid beta (Aβ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), plasma homocysteine (Hcy), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and the mRNA levels of presenilin (PS), IL-6, and TNFα in leukocytes. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures mixed model. Results. The mean MMSE was slightly increased in the intervention group compared to that in the control group (P<0.05). Posttreatment, plasma SAM and SAM/SAH levels were significantly higher (P<0.05), while Aβ40, PS1-mRNA, and TNFα-mRNA levels were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0.05). The Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was also higher in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusions. Folic acid is beneficial in patients with AD. Inflammation may play an important role in the interaction between folic acid and AD. This trial is registered with clinical trial registration number ChiCTR-TRC-13003246.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5912146
spellingShingle Hui Chen
Shuai Liu
Lu Ji
Tianfeng Wu
Yong Ji
Yuying Zhou
Miaoyan Zheng
Meilin Zhang
Weili Xu
Guowei Huang
Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Mediators of Inflammation
title Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Folic Acid Supplementation Mitigates Alzheimer’s Disease by Reducing Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort folic acid supplementation mitigates alzheimer s disease by reducing inflammation a randomized controlled trial
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5912146
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