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Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Low folate status is associated with impaired cognitive function and dementia in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on
Marisa I Ramos1, Lindsay H Allen, Dan M Mungas
1School of Medicine, Department of Medical Pathology, University of California, Davis, USA.
Background:
Low folate status is associated with poor cognitive function and dementia in the elderly. Since 1998, grain products in the United States have been fortified with folic acid, which has reduced the prevalence of folate deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia.
Objective:
We investigated whether folate status is associated with cognitive function and dementia in a cohort of elderly Latinos (aged >or= 60 y; n = 1789) exposed to folic acid fortification.
Design:
Global cognitive function was assessed by the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) and specific cognitive functions by cross-culturally validated neuropsychological tests. Dementia was diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition revised, and California Alzheimer Disease Diagnostic and Treatment criteria. Red blood cell (RBC) folate was measured by automated chemiluminescence and total plasma homocysteine by HPLC.
Results:
The prevalence of folate deficiency (RBC folate
Conclusion:
RBC folate is directly associated with cognitive function scores and is inversely associated with dementia in elderly Latinos despite folic acid fortification.
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