Vitamin B12 deficiency in African American and white octogenarians and centenarians in Georgia

Abstract

Objective Poor vitamin D status has been associated with osteoporosis, falls, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, autoimmune diseases, pain, nursing home placement, and other age-related conditions, but little is known about the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D status in those aged 80 and older. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that vitamin D status would be 1) poorer in a population-based multi-ethnic sample of centenarians as compared with octogenarians and 2) predicted by specific dietary, demographic or environmental factors. Design Cross-sectional population-based analyses. Setting Northern Georgia in the United States. Participants Men and women aged 80 to 89 (octogenarians, n = 80) and 98 and older (centenarians, n = 237). Measurements Regression analyses were used to examine the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with age, gender, race, living arrangements, dairy food intake, supplement intake, and season. Results The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency [25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L] was higher in centenarians than in octogenarians (p < 0.02). In logistic regression analyses, the risk of being vitamin D insufficient was significantly increased by being a centenarian vs. octogenarian (p<0.005) and by being African American vs. white (p < 0.001) and decreased by taking a supplement with vitamin D (p < 0.001) or by having vitamin D status measured in the summer or fall (each p < 0.05), compared with spring. Conclusions Centenarians and octogenarians are at high risk for vitamin D insufficiency for many of the same reasons identified in younger populations. Given the numerous potential adverse consequences of poor vitamin D status, efforts are needed to ensure vitamin D adequacy in these older adults.

The oldest old: Red blood cell and plasma folate in African American and white octogenarians and centenarians in Georgia

“…As previously reported, vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent in this population, particularly among centenarians (2), and vitamin B12 deficiency emerged as a primary predictor of ‘lower’ RBC folate in this study. This is consistent with previous findings in older adults (26) and likely reflects the closely linked intermediary metabolism of folate and vitamin B12 (38, 39) as well as dietary and nutrient supplement consumption patterns.…”

“…These and other studies (15–16) have examined folate status in older adults (aged 60+) collectively, with no further demarcation within this age classification. Our finding of two-fold higher prevalence of both vitamin D insufficiency (1) and vitamin B12 deficiency (2) in centenarians as compared with octogenarians, suggests that there is considerable heterogeneity in nutrient status in the ‘older adult’ age group. To our knowledge, measures of folate status have not been examined specifically in the ‘oldest old’ population groups in the US post-folic acid fortification.…”

“…The original study included 244 centenarians (defined as age 98 and older) and 80 octogenarians. The sampling procedures and data collection methods have been described elsewhere (1, 22). Briefly, recruitment of participants from skilled nursing facilities was based on estimates of the ‘institutionalized’ population of the area according to the 2000 U.S. Census tabulations.…”

“…Non-fasting blood samples were collected as previously described (1, 22). Plasma folate and vitamin B12 and RBC folate were analyzed using Quantaphase II Vitamin B12/Folate Radioassay (Bio-Rad, Richmond, CA).…”

“…Our previous studies showed a high prevalence of both vitamin D insufficiency (1) and vitamin B12 deficiency (2) in a population-based study of older adults, with the prevalence of both conditions over two-fold greater in centenarians as compared with octogenarians. Deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folate are associated with elevated blood homocysteine levels, a risk factor for many chronic conditions.…”