HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Earnest, C. P. Articles by Church, T. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Earnest, C. P. Articles by Church, T. S.

Complex Multivitamin Supplementation Improves Homocysteine and Resistance to LDL-C Oxidation

The Cooper Institute, Dallas Texas

Address reprint requests to: Conrad P. Earnest, PhD, The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75230. E-mail: cearnest{at}cooperinst.org

Objective: We previously reported in an open-label pilot trial that a 24-ingredient multivitamin formula favorably influenced homocysteine concentration and LDL-C oxidation indices following 24 weeks of supplementation. Our current aim was to more thoroughly examine this same formula in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical study.

Methods: We examined 182 participants for selected plasma vitamin concentrations and clinically relevant variables including homocysteine, lipids and LDL-C oxidation indices at baseline and six months.

Results: We found no significant differences between groups for any parameter at baseline. Following six months of vitamin supplementation, we observed elevations in plasma concentrations of vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5'-phosphate; PLP), vitamin B12, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E and ß-carotene (p < 0.0001), all of which were significantly greater than respective placebo group changes (p < 0.0001). Homocysteine decreased in the treatment (8.38 ± 2.9 vs. 6.93 ± 2.5 µmol/L; p < 0.0001) and placebo group (8.17 ± 3.0 vs. 7.42 ± 2.2 µmol/L; p < 0.0001) from baseline to six months, respectively, with reductions in the treatment group being greater than placebo (p < 0.008). LDL-C oxidation indices were also improved as LDL-C oxidation rate was decreased (-0.39 µmol/min/g protein; p < 0.0003) and LDL-C lag time increased (11.3 min; p < 0.003) in supplemented participants. Further analysis also showed that LDL-C oxidation rate was lower (p < 0.0007) and LDL-C lag time longer (p < 0.0001) for the vitamin group than placebo treatment after six months.

Conclusion: We conclude that a multi-ingredient vitamin formula with antioxidant properties has measurable effects on homocysteine and LDL-C oxidation indices.

Key words: multivitamin, homocysteine, LDL-C oxidation