Patent application title:

Method for preventing vascular disease

Publication number:

US20070060542A9

Publication date:
Application number:

10/309,761

Filed date:

2002-12-04

Abstract:

A method for orally administering vitamin preparations is described which combine vitamin B12 (B12, cobalamin) and folic acid (folate), with and without pyridoxine (B6), for preventing and treating elevated serum homocysteine (HC), cystathionine (CT), methylmalonic acid (MMA), or 2-methylcitric acid (2-MCA) levels. These metabolites have been shown to be indicative of B12 and/or folic acid deficiencies. Further, it is likely that a B6 deficiency may be present with a B12 or folate deficiency. The method of the invention is also for use in lowering serum HC, CT, MMA, or 2-MCA in patients with or at risk for neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal or hematologic diseases. The method of the present invention eliminates the costly and time consuming steps of distinguishing between vitamin deficiencies once a deficiency is found by measurement of serum metabolite levels. The present invention is of particular benefit to the populations at risk for elevated serum metabolite levels, such as the people over the age of 65, and populations that have or are at risk for neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal and hematologic diseases.

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Classification:

A61K2300/00 »  CPC further

Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups Β -Β 

A61K31/714 »  CPC further

Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients; Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof; Compounds containing heavy metals Cobalamins, e.g. cyanocobalamin, i.e. vitamin B

A61K31/525 »  CPC main

Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients; Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having six-membered rings with two nitrogen atoms as the only ring heteroatoms, e.g. piperazine; Pyrimidines; Hydrogenated pyrimidines, e.g. trimethoprim ortho- or peri-condensed with heterocyclic rings Isoalloxazines, e.g. riboflavins, vitamin B

A61K31/4415 IPC

Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients; Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having six-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom; Non condensed pyridines; Hydrogenated derivatives thereof Pyridoxine, i.e. Vitamin B

Description

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/793,214, filed on Feb. 26, 2001, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/273,754 filed Mar. 22, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,224, which is a continuation of application no. Ser. No. 09/012,955 filed Jan. 26, 1998 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,873, which is a divisional of application no. Ser. No. 07/999,499, which was filed Dec. 29, 1992, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,126.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of nutrition. Specifically, the invention is comprised of new oral vitamin preparations combining vitamin B12 (B12, cobalamin) and folic acid (folate), and vitamin B12, folate, and pyridoxine (B6) for use in patients with elevated serum metabolite levels of homocysteine (HC), cystathionine (CT), methylmalonic acid (MMA), or 2-methylcitric acid (2-MCA). The elevation of these metabolites has been shown to be indicative of tissue deficiencies of B12 and/or folate and/or B6, and related to increased risk of neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal and hematologic diseases. One embodiment of the present invention uses a non-prescription formulation comprising between 0.3-10.0 mg B12 and 0.1-0.4 mg folate, with the preferred embodiment using 2.0 mg B12 and 0.4 mg folate. Another embodiment of the non-prescription formulation uses 0.3-10 mg B12, 0.1-0.4 mg folate, and 5-75 mg B6, with the preferred embodiment using 2.0 mg B12, 0.4 mg folate, and 25 mg B6. Another embodiment of the present invention uses a prescription strength formulation comprising between 0.3-10.0 mg B12 and 0.4-1.0 mg folate, with the preferred embodiment using 2 mg B12 and 1.0 mg folate. In a further embodiment of the present invention, a prescription strength formulation is used comprising 0.3-10 mg B12, 0.4-1.0 mg folate, and 5-75 mg B6, with the preferred embodiment using 2 mg B12, 1.0 mg folate, and 25 mg B6. The formulations of the present invention eliminate the costly and time-consuming steps of distinguishing between vitamin deficiencies once a deficiency is found by measurement of serum metabolite levels. The present invention is of particular benefit to the populations at risk for tissue deficiencies of B12, folate, and B6, such as people over the age of 65, and populations that have or are at risk for neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal and hematologic diseases.

BACKGROUND

Vitamins B12, folate, and B6 are required cofactors in metabolic pathways involving methionine, homocysteine, cystathionine, and cysteine. B12 in the form of 5β€²-deoxyadenosylcobalamin is an essential cofactor in the enzymatic conversion of methylmalonylCoA to succinylCoA. The remethylation of homocysteine (HC) to methionine catalyzed by methionine synthase requires folate (methyltetrahydrofolate) and B12 in the form of methylcobalamin. HC is condensed with serine to form cystathionine (CT) in a reaction catalyzed by cystathionine β–‘-synthase which requires B6 (pyridoxal phosphate). CT is hydrolyzed in another B6-dependent reaction to cysteine and β–‘-ketobutyrate.

It is important to diagnose and treat B12, folate, and B6 deficiencies because these deficiencies can lead to life-threatening hematologic abnormalities which are completely reversible by proper treatment. B12 deficiency is a multisystem disorder with extremely varied clinical presentation which has been thought to occur in 0.4% of the population, e.g., about 1 million people in the United States. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include significant anemia, displayed for example in decreased hematocrit (e.g., <25%) or hemoglobin (e.g., <8 g %), with macrocytic red blood cells (i.e., mean cell volume generally greater than 100 fl), or neurologic symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and/or ataxia. See, for example, Babior and Bunn (1983) in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, (Petersdorf et al., eds.), McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York; Lee and Gardner (1984) in Textbook of Family Practice, 3rd Ed. (Rakel, ed.), Saunders & Co., Philadelphia). The hematological abnormalities seen are due to intracellular folate deficiency since folate is required for a number of essential enzymatic reactions involved in DNA and RNA synthesis and since the form of folate in serum (5-methyltetrahydrofolate) must be metabolized to tetrahydrofolate by the B12-dependent enzyme methionine synthase before it can be utilized by the RNA- and DNA-related enzymes. While it has been well recognized that individuals with B12 deficiency could display neurologic disorders in the absence of anemia, such situations were believed to be exceptional and rare. See, Beck (1985) in Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 17th Ed., (Wyngaarden and Smith, eds.), W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp. 893-900; Babior and Bunn (1987) in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 11th Ed., (Braunwald et al., eds.) McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 1498-1504; Walton (1985) in Brain's Diseases of the Nervous System, 9th Ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. The neurologic symptoms of B12 deficiency were considered to be late manifestations of the disease most typically occurring after the onset of anemia or, if they occurred first, were soon to be followed by the onset of anemia. See, Woltmann (1919) Am. J. Med. Sci. 157:400-409 Victor and Lear (1956) Am. J. Med. 20:896-911.

However, it has recently been shown that the textbook description of severe megaloblastic anemia and combined systems disease of the nervous system is the rarest presentation of B12 deficiency at the present time (Stabler et al. (1990) Blood 76:871-881; Carmel (1988) Arch. Int. Med. 148:1712-1714 Allen (1991) in Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th Ed., (Wyngaarden and Smith, et al. eds.), W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp. 846-854.). Therefore, contrary to previous teachings, patients that may benefit from B12 therapy may have minimal to no hematologic changes while manifesting a wide variety of neurologic and psychiatric abnormalities (Lindenbaum et al. (1988) N. Engl. J. Med. 318:1720-1728; Greenfield and O'Flynn (1933) Lancet 2:62-63). This is particularly true for populations at risk for B12 deficiency, such as the elderly population (Pennypacker et al. (1992) J. Am. Geriatric Soc. 40: (in press).

The incidence of folate deficiency in the population is unknown, but has been thought to occur commonly in individuals with various degrees of alcoholism. The hematologic abnormalities seen with folate deficiency, such as macrocytic anemia, are indistinguishable from those seen with B12 deficiency. Folate is required for a number of essential enzymatic reactions involved in DNA and RNA synthesis, and is particularly important in rapidly dividing cells like those in the bone marrow.

B6 is required for the first step in heme synthesis and serves a major role in transamination reactions of amino acid metabolism, in decarboxylations, and in the synthesis of the neuroactive amines histamine, tyramine, serotonin, and β–‘-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Clinical manifestations include microcytic hypochromic anemia, characteristic skin changes of dermatitis and acrodynia, muscular weakness, and a variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities including hyperirritability, epileptiform convulsions, depression and confusion (Newberne and Conner (1989) in Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 796-834).

Vitamin deficiencies are generally determined by measurement of serum levels. Normal serum B12 levels are 200-900 pg/ml, with levels of less than 100 pg/ml being said to indicate clinically significant deficiency (Beck (1985) supra) However, serum B12 levels are a relatively insensitive determinant of B12 deficiency in that only 50% of patients with clinically confirmed B12 deficiency have levels less than 100 pg/ml, 40% are 100-200 pg/ml, and at least 5-10% have values in the 200-300 pg/ml range. Diagnosis is further complicated by the fact that 2.5% of normal subjects (6,250,000 people in the U.S.) have low serum B12 levels (Allen (1991) supra), with no evidence of B12 deficiency and are unlikely to benefit from B12 therapy (Schilling et al. (1983) Clin. Chem. 29:582; Stabler (1990) supra).

Normal serum folate levels are 2.5-20 ng/ml, with levels less than 2.5 ng/ml indicating the possibility of clinically significant deficiency. Like B12 serum levels, however, serum folate levels are a relatively insensitive measure in that only 50-75% of patients with folate deficiency have levels less than 2.5% ng/ml, with most of the remaining 25-50% being in the 2.5-5.0 ng/ml range (Allen (1991) in Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th Ed., su ra) The development of sensitive serum metabolite assays for HC, CT, MMA, and 2-MCA has allowed the relationship between metabolite levels and vitamin deficiencies to be investigated (Stabler et al. (1987) Anal. Biochem. 162:185-196; Stabler et al. (1986) J. Clin. Invest. 77:1606-1612; Stabler et al. (1988) J. Clin. Invest. 81:466-474). It has been found that elevated serum levels of HC and MMA are clinically useful tests of functional intracellular deficiencies of B12 and folate, with elevated HC levels seen with both B12 and folate deficiencies, and elevated MMA levels seen with a B12 deficiency (Allen et al. (1990) Am. J. Hematol. 34:90-98 Lindenbaum et al. (1990) Am. J. Hematol. 34:99-107; Lindenbaum et al. (1988) N. Engl. J. Med. 318:1720-1728; Beck (1991) in Neuropsychiatric Consequences of Cobalamin Deficiency, Mosby Year Book 36:33-56 Moelby et al. (1990) 228:373-378; Ueland and Refsum (19890 J. Lab. Clin. Med. 114:473-501; Pennypacker et al. (1992) supra). Increased serum levels of CT are seen in both deficiencies and 2-MCA is elevated in B12 deficiency (Allen et al. (1991) in Proceedings of the 1 st International Congress on Vitamins and Biofactors in Life Science, Kobe (Japan) ; Allen et al. (1993) Metabolism (in press)). HC and CT may be elevated in patients with intracellular deficiency of B6, but this has not been as well documented (Park and Linkswiler (1970) J. Nutr. 100:110-116; Smolin and Benvange (1982) J. Nutr. 112:1264-1272).

Elevated serum metabolite levels are observed in disease states other than classic vitamin deficiencies. For example, elevated HC levels have been observed in the presence of vascular disease. The homocysteine theory of atherosclerosis, formulated by McCully and Wilson (1975) Atherosclerosis 22:215-227, suggests that high levels of HC are responsible for the vascular lesions seen in homocystinuria, a genetic defect caused by a deficiency in the enzyme cystathionine β–‘-synthase. The theory also implies that moderate elevations of HC might be associated with increased risk for vascular disease (Ueland et al. (1992) in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Hemostasis, and Endothelial Function (Francis, Jr., ed.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, pp. 183-236). Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia has been shown to be frequently present in cases of stroke and to be independent of other stroke risk factors (Brattstrom et al. (1992) Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 22:214-221). Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that patients who are homozygotes for cystathionine β–‘-synthase deficiency have a markedly increased incidence of vascular disease and thrombosis. A number of studies (see, Clarke et al. (1991) N. Engl. J. Med. 324:1149-1155) strongly suggest that heterozygotes for a deficiency of cystathionine Ξ²-synthase also have an increased incidence of vascular disease and thrombosis and that such heterozygotes may constitute as many as one-third of all patients who develop strokes, heart attacks, or peripheral vascular disease under age 50. It is also likely that such heterozygotes are also at increased risk for vascular disease and thrombosis after age 50. Since the incidence of heterozygosity for cystathionine Ξ²-synthase deficiency is estimated to be 1 in 60-70, this means that there are approximately 4 million heterozygotes in the U.S. It is also possible that patients with vascular disease due to other causes, such as hypercholesterolemia, would also benefit from a decrease in their serum HC levels even if their existing levels are only slightly elevated or actually within the normal range.

Renal disease is another condition that gives rise to elevated levels of serum metabolites. Approximately 75% of patients with renal disease have elevated serum concentrations of HC, CT, MMA, and 2-MCA. Since patients with renal disease have a significant incidence and marked acceleration of vascular disease, it might be beneficial to lower their serum metabolite levels, especially that of HC.

An increasing prevalence of low serum B12 concentrations with advancing age has been found by many but not all investigators (Bailey et al. (1980) J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 28:276-278 Eisborg et al. (1976) Acta Med. Scand. 200:309-314; Niisson-Ehle et al. (1989) Dig. Dis. Sci. 34:716-723; Norman (1985) 33:374; Hitzhusen et al. (1986) Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 85:3236), folate (Magnus et al. (1982) Scan. J. Haematol. 28:360-366; Blundell et al. (1985) J. Clin. Pathol. 38:1179-1184 Elwood et al. (1971) Br. J. Haematol. 21:557-563; Garryet al. (1984) J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 32:71926; Hanger et al. (1991) J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 39:1155-1159), and B6 (Ranke et al. (1960) J. Gerontol. 15:41-44; Rose et al. (1976) Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 29:847-853; Baker et al. (1979) J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 27:444-450). Moreover, prevalence estimates for these vitamin deficiencies vary widely depending on the population groups studied. It has been unclear whether this increased prevalence is a normal age related phenomena or a true reflection of tissue vitamin deficiency and whether the low serum vitamin concentrations are a reliable indicator of functional intracellular deficiency.

It is difficult, expensive and time-consuming to distinguish between deficiencies of vitamins B12, folate, and B6. The hematologic abnormalities seen with B12 deficiency are indistinguishable from those seen with folate deficiency. Similarly to a B12 deficiency, B6 deficiencies also result in hematologic as well as neuropsychiatric abnormalities. The traditional methods of determining deficiencies by measurement of serum vitamin levels are often insensitive. As a result, in order to determine if and which vitamin deficiency is present, a patient will be treated with one vitamin at a time and the response to that vitamin determined by normalization of serum vitamin levels and the correction of hematologic abnormalities. These steps are then repeated with each vitamin. This method of treatment is both expensive and time-consuming. In the presence of multiple deficiencies, the diagnosis of vitamin deficiencies is further confused and give rise to the dangerous possibility that only one deficiency will be treated. For example, the hematologic abnormalities seen with a B12 deficiency will respond to treatment with folate alone. However, the neuropsychiatric abnormalities caused by the B12 deficiency will not be corrected and may indeed by worsened.

It has now been discovered for the first time that the prevalence of intracellular deficiencies of vitamins B12, folate, and B6, alone or in combination, is substantially higher than that previously estimated by measurement of serum vitamin concentrations. The present disclosure establishes that tissue deficiencies of one or more of the vitamins B12, folate and B6, as demonstrated by the elevated metabolite concentrations, occurs commonly in the elderly population even when serum vitamin levels are normal. Based on this new discovery, the present invention addresses the problem of distinguishing between vitamin deficiencies when low, low-normal, or normal serum vitamin concentrations are found by providing formulations for the treatment of high serum metabolites and at-risk populations for combinations of one or more tissue deficiencies of vitamins B12, folate, and B6.

Hathcock and Troendle (1991) JAMA 265:96-97, have suggested the treatment of pernicious anemia with an oral pill containing 300 to 1000 ug or more per day of B12. However, contrary to the present invention, Hathcock and Troendle teach away from combining B12 therapy with folate, since β€œif the oral cobalamin therapy should fail to maintain adequate levels, folate might provide protection against development of anemia while permitting nerve damage from cobalamin deficiency.”

U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,083, issued Jul. 31, 1990 to Jansen, entitled: Safe Oral Folic-Acid-Containing Vitamin Preparation, describes a oral vitamin preparation comprising 0.1-1.0 mg B12 and 0.1-1.0 mg folate for the treatment or prevention of megaloblastic anemia. This formulation presents a problem in the case of a B12 deficient patient, in that the 0.5 mg folate may correct the hematologic abnormalities present, but the 0.5 mg B12 dose may be insufficient to correct a B12 deficiency due to inadequate intrinsic factor. By contrast, the formulation of the present invention teaches the use of the combination of B12 and folate, and of B12, folate and B6, sufficient to treat either single or multiple deficiencies of B12, folate, and B6. The present invention does not rely on the determination of vitamin deficiencies by the measurement of serum vitamin levels, but uses the more sensitive measurement of elevated serum metabolites of HC, CT, MMA, and 2-MCA, shown to be related to the presence of B 12 and/or folate and/or to B6 deficiencies or to the presence of the increased risk of neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal, and hematologic diseases.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention includes a method for orally administering two new vitamin preparations containing vitamin B12 and folate, and vitamin B12, folate and B6, for the treatment of patients with elevated serum metabolites, such as homocysteine, cystathionine, methylmalonic acid, and 2-methylcitric acid, as well as populations at risk for tissue deficiencies in one or more of the vitamins B12, folate, and B6 or for neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal, or hematologic diseases.

One embodiment of the present invention uses an over-the-counter formulation comprised of between 0.3-10 mg CN-cobalamin (B12) and 0.1-0.4 mg folate. Another embodiment of the non-prescription formulation uses 0.3-10 mg B12, 0.1-0.4 mg folate, and 5-75 mg B6. Preferred embodiments of the over-the-counter formulation are comprised of about 2.0 mg B12 and 0.4 mg folate, and 2.0 mgB12, 0.4 mg folate, and 25 mg B6, respectively.

Another embodiment of the present invention uses a prescription formulation comprised of between 0.3-10 mg CN-cobalamin (B12) and 0.4-10.0 mg folate. Another embodiment of the prescription formulation of the present invention uses 0.3-10 mg B12, 0.4-10.0 mg folate, and 5-75 mg B6. Preferred embodiments of the prescription formulation use about 2.0 mg B12 and 1.0 mg folate, and 2.0 mg B12, 1.0 mg folate, and 25 mg B6, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the distribution of serum B12 levels for a population of elderly outpatients (ages 65-99, n=152) and a normal population (ages 17-65, n=100).

FIG. 2 shows serum MMA levels for a population of elderly outpatients with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 65-99, n=38/152) and a normal population with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 17-65, n=10/100).

FIG. 3 shows serum HC levels for a population of elderly outpatients with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 65-99, n=38/152) and a normal population with serum B,2 values <300 pg/ml (ages 17-65, n=10/100).

FIG. 4 shows serum MMA levels before and after treatment with parenteral cobalamin for a population of elderly outpatients with elevated MMA values and serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 65-99, n=15/38).

FIG. 5 shows serum HC levels before and after treatment with parenteral cobalamin for a population of elderly outpatients with elevated HC values and serum B12 values of <300 pg/ml (ages 65-99, n=10/38).

FIG. 6 shows the distribution of serum B12 levels for a population of elderly nursing home patients (ages 55-107, n=212) and a normal population (ages 17-65, n=100).

FIG. 7 shows serum MMA levels for a population of elderly nursing home patients with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 55-107, n=29/212) and a normal population with serum B12 values (ages 17-65, n=10/100).

FIG. 8 shows serum HC levels for a population of elderly nursing home patients with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 55-107, n=29/212) and a normal population with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 17-65, n=10/100).

FIG. 9 shows serum MMA levels before and after treatment with parenteral cobalamin for a population of elderly nursing home patients with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 55-107, n=14/29).

FIG. 10 shows serum HC levels before and after treatment with parenteral cobalamin for a population of elderly nursing home patients with serum B12 values <300 pg/ml (ages 55-107, n=14/29).

FIG. 11 shows the distribution of serum B12 levels for a population of elderly patients (ages 65-99, n=548) and a normal population (ages 22-63, n=1 17) (Framingham study).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, which, together with the following examples, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

This invention uses new oral vitamin formulations combining vitamin B12 (B12, cobalamin) and folic acid (folate), and vitamin B12, folate and pyridoxine (B6). The formulations of the present invention are for use in the treatment of elevated serum levels of one or more of the metabolites homocysteine (HC), cystathionine (CT), methylmalonic acid (MMA), or 2-methylcitric acid (2-MCA). The use of the formulations of the present invention further include as a method of lowering serum metabolite levels of one or more of HC, CT, MMA, or 2-MCA, where these metabolite levels are not elevated but the patients are at risk for or have neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal, or hematologic diseases.

One embodiment of the present invention uses a non-prescription formulation comprised of between about 0.3-10 mg CN-cobalamin (B12) and 0.1-0.4 mg folate. Another embodiment of the present invention uses a non-prescription formulation comprised of between about 0.3-10 mg B12, 0.1-0.4 mg folate, and 5-75 mg B6. Preferred embodiments of the non-prescription formulation are comprised of about 2.0 mg B12 and 0.4 mg folate, and 2.0 mg B12, 0.4 mg folate, and 25 mg B6, respectively.

Another embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a prescription formulation comprised of between about 0.3-10 mg B12 and 0.4-10.0 mg folate, with the preferred embodiment comprised of about 2.0 mg B12 and 1.0 mg folate. Another embodiment of the prescription strength formulation is comprised of about 0.3-10 mg B12, 0.4-10.0 mg folate, and 5-75 mg B6, with a preferred embodiment comprised of about 2.0 mg B12, 1.0 mg folate, and 25 mg B6.

The formulations of the present invention are for the treatment and prevention of elevated metabolite levels in at risk populations, such as the elderly, and people that have or are at risk for neuropsychiatric, vascular, renal and hematologic diseases. The present invention eliminates the costly and time consuming need to differentiate between B12, folate, and B6 deficiencies.

The administration of a daily dose of the vitamin formulations of the present invention provides better long-term normalization of serum HC and other metabolites than prior art formulations, and eliminates the difficulty in differentiating between deficiencies of two or three of the vitamins, the difficulty in diagnosing multiple deficiencies of two or three of the vitamins, and the expense of doing so. Further, the administration of an oral preparation of B12 and folate, with or without B6, is preferred over intramuscular injections for patient convenience and ease of administration.

For example, the inclusion of B12 will be useful as a safeguard for patients misdiagnosed as folate deficient, even though they are actually B12 deficient, since treatment with folate alone in such patients is extremely dangerous. The danger arises from the fact that treating a B12 deficient patient with folate alone may reverse or prevent the hematologic abnormalities seen in B12 deficiency, but will not correct the neuropsychiatric abnormalities of a B12 deficiency and may actually precipitate them. Even in the absence of intrinsic factor, approximately 1% of a 2.0 mg oral dose of B12 is absorbed by diffusion. Thus, approximately 20 ug of B12 would be absorbed from the formulations of the present invention which would be more than adequate even in patients with pernicious anemia who have lost their intrinsic factor-facilitated absorption mechanism for B12. The inclusion of folate will be of benefit since B12 deficiency causes a secondary intracellular deficiency of folate. The inclusion of folate and B6 will also be of benefit in patients with mixed vitamin deficiencies.

The formulations of the present invention may be administered as a non-injectable implant or orally. Non-injectable use may be as a patch. Formulations for oral administration are preferably encapsulated. Preferably, the capsule is designed so that the formulation is released gastrically where bioavailability is maximized. Additional excipients may be included to facilitate absorption of the vitamin formulations. Diluents, flavorings, low melting point waxes, vegetable oils, lubricants, suspending agents, tablet disintegrating agents, and binders may also be employed.

Example 1 describes the methods used to measure serum vitamin and metabolite levels. Example 2 describes a new study conducted with 412 subjects over the age of 65 with a variety of medical conditions correlating the incidence of low serum vitamin levels with elevated serum metabolite levels. A study determining the incidence of undetected B12 deficiency and response of serum MMA and HC to B12 treatment in a geriatric outpatient population is described in Example 3. Example 4 describes a similar study conducted with a geriatric nursing home population, and Example 5 describes a similar study conducted with another geriatric population.

EXAMPLE 1

Methods for Measurement of Serum Vitamin and Metabolite Levels.

Serum vitamin assays. Serum vitamins B12 and folate were measured by a quantitative radioassay method using purified intrinsic factor and purified folate binding protein. Vitamin B6 was measured by a radioenzymatic assay method wherein serum is incubated with apoenzyme tyrosine-decarboxylase, C14 labelled tyrosine is added to start the enzymatic reaction which is stopped with HCl. Subsequently the free C14-labelled CO2 is adsorbed by a KOH impregnated filtering paper. The measured C14 activity is directly proportional to the B6 (pyridoxal phosphate) concentration (Laboratory Bioscientia, Germany).

Serum metabolite assays. Serum metabolite assays for homocysteine and methylmalonic acid were conducted by the capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry methods of Marcell et al. (1985) Anal. Biochem. 150:58; Stabler et al. (1987) supra, and Allen et al. (1990) Am. J. Hematol. 34:90-98. Serum cystathionine levels were assayed by the method of Stabler et al. (1992) Blood (submitted). Serum 2-methylcitric acid was assayed by the method of Allen et al. (1993) Metabolism supra.

Statistical methods. Statistical analysis was done with the SAS statistical package (version 6.06). Nonparametric data for two or more groups were tested with the two sample Wilcoxon rank sum test (with Bonferroni's correction for the significance level ax) and the Kruskall Wallis test. From the results of the healthy young subjects reference intervals were calculated. Since the frequency distribution of the values of each parameter were markedly abnormal they were transformed to normal distributions using log transformation. The sample prevalence p with 95% confidence intervals of low serum vitamins B12, folate, and B6 concentrations was calculated as (pΒ±2p (1βˆ’p)/nΓ—100 wherein n is the total sample size, p is the number of low serum vitamin concentrations/n; low serum concentrations are defined as <mean βˆ’2 S.D.

EXAMPLE 2

Incidence of Elevated MMA, 2-MCA, HC, and CT Levels in the Geriatric Population.

The serum concentrations of B12, folate, and B6 were measured in 412 subjects over the age of 65 (subgroups A-D), and in 99 healthy control subjects aged 20-55 years (subgroup E). The geriatric subgroups were defined as follows: A, 110 patients with atherosclerosis; B, 98 patients with neuropsychiatric disorders; C, 102 patients with atherosclerosis and multiple diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes; D, 102 subjects who were healthy.

Venous blood was obtained from all subjects in the morning after an overnight fast. The blood was spun within one hour after collection and the serum was transported in dry ice to the central laboratory. Serum vitamins B12 and folate were measured as described in Example 1 with a vitamin B12/folate dual RIA kit (CT301/CT302 Amersham Buchier, UK). Vitamin B6 and serum metabolites were measured as described in Example 1.

Since renal function can influence serum metabolite concentrations (Ueland and Refsum (1989) supra Moelby et al. (1992) Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 52:351-354), serum creatinine concentrations were measured in all subjects by the Jaffe photometric method (Laboratory Bioscientia, Germany). Normal range was 62-124 ΞΌmol/L. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the formulation of Cockroft and Gault (1976) Nephron 16:31-41.

Normal ranges for serum vitamin and metabolite levels were determined by the mean Β±2 standard deviations after log normalization using the values from subgroup E. Results are shown in Table 1:

TABLE 1
INCIDENCE OF LOW SERUM
VITAMN AND HIGH METABOLITE LEVELS
IN GERIATRIC POPULATIONS A-D AND
A YOUNGER HEALTHY POPULATION E.
Folic
Group B12 Acid B6 MMA 2-MCA HC CT
A 6% 12% 48% 36% 44% 55% 64%
B 6% 19% 53% 47% 39% 59%  6%
C 3% 10% 50% 32% 45% 39% 73%
D 6%  6% 17% 26% 23% 38% 41%
E 2%  1%  1%  3%  6%  2%  4%

There was a rough correlation with low vitamin levels and elevated metabolites, but many of the patients with elevated metabolites had low normal or normal vitamin levels. Correlations between clinical abnormalities within groups A, B, and C were not present. Patients were treated with weekly injections of a multi-vitamin preparation containing 1.0 mg B12, 1.1 mg folate, and 5 mg B6, resulting in a marked lowering or normalization of elevated metabolite levels in virtually every elderly patient.

These data support the conclusions that there is an increased incidence of low levels of serum B12, folate, and B6 in the geriatric population, and that serum MMA, 2-MCA, HC and CT are elevated in an even higher percentage of geriatric patients. The presence of elevated levels of one or more of the metabolites HC, CT, MMA, or 2-MCA indicate a tissue or intracellular deficiency of one or more of the vitamins B12, folate and B6. It not possible to tell without expensive, time-consuming, and extensive testing which one vitamin or pair of vitamins, or whether all three vitamins are deficient. These observations, together with the fact that elevated metabolite levels are corrected by parenteral therapy with a combination of vitamins B12, folate, and B6, indicate that a tissue deficiency of one or more of these vitamins occurs commonly in the geriatric population and that measurement of serum vitamin levels alone is an inadequate method for identifying such deficiencies.

EXAMPLE 3

Determination of Serum B12 Folate, MMA, HC, CT and 2-MCA Levels in a Geriatric Outpatient Population.

A study was conducted with 152 elderly outpatient subjects to measure the prevalence of B12 deficiency in geriatric outpatients as determined by both low serum B12 levels and elevations of MMA and HC, and to determine the response to B12 treatment. Blood samples were obtained on 152 consecutive geriatric outpatients, ages 65-99. Control values were determined from 100 subjects, ages 17-65. Serum B12 folate, MMA, HC, CT, and 2-MCA levels were obtained for each patient, shown in Table 2. The significance of the results marked as β€œ**” in Table 2 are as follows: B12 levels of <200 pg/ml; folate <3.8 ng/ml; homocysteine >16.2 uM; MMA >271 nM; CT >342 nM; and 2-MCA >228 nM. Serum MMA, HC, CT, and 2-MCA levels were measured as described in Example 1. Serum B12 and folate were measured as described in Example 1 using a Coming humophase kit (CIBA-Corning, Medfield, Mass.) with the normal range defined as 200-800 pg/ml for B12 and 3.8 ng/ml for folate. After evaluation, patients received weekly parenteral cyanocobalamin injections (1,000 ug IM) for 8 weeks, followed by monthly injections. Repeat laboratory and clinical assessments were administered at 8 weeks and at 6 months.

Results show that 25% of the subjects had a serum B12 level <300 pg/ml and 8.5% had a low level of <200 pg/ml. FIG. 1 shows the shift seen in elderly subject towards lower serum B12 levels. More than half of the subjects with low or low-normal serum B12 levels had elevations of MMA (FIG. 2) and/or HC (FIG. 3) greater than 3 S.D. above the means in normals and representing 14.5% of the total screened population.

Patients with low and low/normal serum B12 levels were treated with weekly injections of 1.0 mg B12. Parenteral B12 administration caused elevated metabolite levels to fall to or towards normal (FIGS. 4 and 5) in every subject treated with B12. It appears that the true prevalence of previously unrecognized B12 deficiency in this elderly population was at least 14.5%.

It can be seen from the data presented in Table 2 that serum B12 levels are insensitive for screening B12 deficiencies since similar numbers of patients with low normal serum B12 levels of 201-300 pg/ml compared with patients with low B12 levels (<200 pg/ml) had markedly elevated metabolites which fell with B12 treatment. Further, this study shows that elderly patients have a high incidence (at least 14.5%) of unrecognized B12 deficiency, detectable by measurement of serum HC and MMA levels in patients with serum B12 levels <300 pg/ml.

A further finding in this study emphasizes the need to treat elevated metabolite levels with a combination of vitamin B12 and folate with or without B6. Some of the patients exhibiting elevated metabolite levels did not fully respond to B12 treatment. This may indicate a concomitant deficiency of folate and/or B6. The lack of response to B12 treatment could result from a deficiency of one, a pair, or all three vitamins. However, it would be expensive and time-consuming to attempt to distinguish between the vitamin deficiencies.

Another, and perhaps the most important, finding in this study is the large number of patients with serum B12>300 pg/ml who have elevated values for one or more metabolites as indicated by a β€œ**” next to the individual values. As can readily be seen in Table 2, there are many examples of elevated value for MMA and/or 2-MCA at all levels of serum B12 including the mid-normal (300-600 pg/ml), the high-normal (600-800 pg/ml), and even the elevated (>800 pg/ml) ranges. The same is true for elevations of HC and CT. In some patients the serum folate is low, indicating that folate deficiency may be present, but in many cases both B12 and folate levels are normal. B6 levels were not performed in this study, but B6 deficiency would not be expected to cause elevations of MMA or 2-MCA. Thus in many patients it is not clear which vitamin, or pair of vitamins, or whether all three vitamins is or are deficient. One could pick a single vitamin, often at random, with which to treat a patient for several weeks or months, and then repeat measurement of metabolite levels to determine if a partial or full correction had occurred. If there was no response, one could try another vitamin, or if there was a partial response one could add a second vitamin, and then repeat metabolite measurement after several weeks or months. If there was still no response, one could try the third vitamin, or if there was a partial response, one could try a different pair of vitamins. Eventually one could determine whether an individual vitamin, a particular pair of vitamins, or all three vitamins were required to normalize or maximally reduce the metabolite levels, but it would often require months or even a year to make this determination. Such a determination would be expensive. In addition, a patient who was optimally treated with a single vitamin or pair of vitamins might subsequently develop a deficiency of one or even two of the other vitamins as evidenced by a re-elevation or increase in the levels of one or more metabolites. Therapeutic testing could be reinitiated and continued as described above, although this would also be time-consuming and expensive.

It requires less time and expense to treat patients with elevated metabolite levels with a combination of vitamin B12 and folate, or a combination of vitamin B12, folate and vitamin B6. The utility of the approach of the present invention is appreciated only after it is taught, for the first time in the present disclosure, that a deficiency of one or more of the three vitamins occurs commonly in the elderly population as evidenced by elevation of one or more metabolites, i.e., MMA, 2-MCA, HC and CT.

EXAMPLE 4

Determination of Serum B12, Folate, MMA, and HC Levels in a Geriatric Nursing Home Population.

A study was conducted with 212 elderly nursing home patients to determine serum B12, folate, MMA, and HC levels (Table 3). The significance of the results shown in Table 3 marked with β€œ**” are as described for Table 2 (Example 3). The control group consisted of 100 subjects between the ages of 17-65 years. As in the study described in Example 3, the elderly population exhibited a shift to lower serum B12 levels (FIG. 6), elevated serum MMA (FIG. 7) and HC (FIG. 8) levels. Parenteral administration of B12 1 mg per week for 8 weeks to those with serum B12<300 pg/ml caused elevated MMA (FIG. 9) and HC (FIG. 10) levels to fall to or towards normal.

As in the study reported in Example 3, a further finding in this study emphasizes the need to treat elevated metabolite levels with a combination of vitamins B12 and folate, with or without B6. Some of the patients exhibiting elevated metabolite levels did not fully respond to B12 treatment. This may indicate a concomitant deficiency of folate and/or B6. The lack of response to B12 treatment could result from a deficiency of one, a pair, or all three vitamins. However, it would be expensive and time-consuming to attempt to distinguish between the vitamin deficiencies.

Again, an important finding in this study is the large number of patients with serum B12>300 pg/ml who have elevated values for one or more metabolites as indicated by a β€œ**” next to the individual values. As is seen in Table 3, there are many examples of elevated values for MMA at all levels of serum B12 including the mid-normal (300-600 pg/ml), the high-normal (600-800 pg/ml), and even the elevated (>800 pg/ml) ranges. The same is true for elevations of HC. In some patients the serum folate is low, indicating that folate deficiency may be present, but in many cases both B12 and folate levels are normal. B6 levels were not performed in this study, but B6 deficiency would not be expected to cause elevations of MMA. Thus, again it is not clear which vitamin, or pair of vitamins, or whether all three vitamins is or are deficient. One could pick a single vitamin with which to treat a patient for several weeks or months, and then repeat measurement of metabolite levels to determine if a partial or full correction had occurred. If there was no response, one could try another vitamin, or if there was a partial response one could add a second vitamin, and then repeat metabolite measurement after several weeks or months. If there was still no response, one could try the third vitamin, or if there was a partial response, one could try a different pair of vitamins. Eventually one could determine whether an individual vitamin, a particular pair of vitamins, or all three vitamins were required to normalize or maximally reduce the metabolite levels, but it would often require months or even a year to make this determination. Such a determination would be expensive. In addition, a patient who was optimally treated with a single vitamin or pair of vitamins might subsequently develop a deficiency of one or even two of the other vitamins as evidenced by a re-elevation or increase in the levels of one or more metabolites. Therapeutic testing could be reinitiated and continued as described above, although this would also be time-consuming and expensive.

It requires less time and expense to treat patients with elevated metabolite levels with a combination of vitamin B12 and folate, or a combination of vitamin B12, folate and vitamin B6. The utility of the approach of the present invention is appreciated only after it is taught, for the first time in the present disclosure, that a deficiency of one or more of the three vitamins occurs commonly in the elderly population as evidenced by elevation of one or more metabolites, i.e., MMA, 2-MCA, HC and CT.

EXAMPLE 5

Determination of Serum B12 Folate, I4MA, and HC Levels in a Geriatric Population.

A study was conducted with 548 elderly subjects from the Framingham study between the ages of 65-99 to determine serum B12, folate, MMA, and HC levels (Table 4). The significance of the results shown in Table 4 (marked with β€œ**”) are as described for Table 2 (Example 2).

As in the study described in Examples 3 and 4, the elderly population exhibited a shift to lower serum B12 levels (FIG. 11), and elevated serum MMA and HC levels. The elderly population also exhibited a high incidence (9.5%) of low serum folate levels (Table 4). As in the studies reported in Examples 2, 3 and 4, the incidence of tissue or intracellular vitamin deficiencies based on elevated metabolite levels was higher than that predicted from measurement of serum vitamin levels.

As in Examples 3 and 4 above, these results confirm the importance of the finding that there are a large number of patients with serum B12>300 pg/ml who have elevated values for one or more metabolites as indicated by a β€œ**” next to the individual values. As is seen in Table 4, there are many examples of elevated MMA values at all levels of serum B12 including the mid-normal (300-600 pg/ml), the high-normal (600-800 pg/ml), and even the elevated (>800 pg/ml) ranges. The same is true for elevations of HC. In some patients the serum folate is low, indicating that folate deficiency may be present, but in many cases both B12 and folate levels are normal. B6 levels were not performed in this study, but B6 deficiency would not be expected to cause elevations of MMA. Thus, again it is not clear which vitamin, or pair of vitamins, or whether all three vitamins is or are deficient. One could pick a single vitamin with which to treat a patient for several weeks or months, and then repeat measurement of metabolite levels to determine if a partial or full correction had occurred. If there was no response, one could try another vitamin, or if there was a partial response one could add a second vitamin, and then repeat metabolite measurement after several weeks or months. If there was still no response, one could try the third vitamin, or if there was a partial response, one could try a different pair of vitamins. Eventually one could determine whether an individual vitamin, a particular pair of vitamins, or all three vitamins were required to normalize or maximally reduce the metabolite levels, but it would often require months or even a year to make this determination. Such a determination would be expensive. In addition, a patient who was optimally treated with a single vitamin or pair of vitamins might subsequently develop a deficiency of one or even two of the other vitamins as evidenced by a re-elevation or increase in the levels of one or more metabolites. Therapeutic testing could be reinitiated and continued as described above, although this would also be time-consuming and expensive.

It requires less time and expense to treat patients with elevated metabolite levels with a combination of vitamin B12 and folate, or a combination of vitamin B12, folate and vitamin B6. The utility of the approach of the present invention is appreciated only after it is taught, for the first time in the present disclosure, that a deficiency of one or more of the three vitamins occurs commonly in the elderly population as evidenced by elevation of one or more metabolites, i.e., MMA, 2-MCA, HC and CT.

TABLE 2
SERUM METABOLITE & VITAMIN LEVELS IN A GERIATRIC
OUTPATIENT POPULATION
Total
Patient B12 Folate Homocysteine MMA CT MC
116 66** 9.8 41.8** 1508** 507** 759**
118 79** 9.3 29.6** 2200** 343** 428**
016 155** 7.6 15.3 1316** 208 196
067 163** 6.6 9.9 93 164 69
091 178** 12.0 29.2** 3108** 438** 318**
042 181** 11.3 13.0 452** 300 262**
030 185** 6.6 26.0** 282** 310 223
037 187** 9.4 12.3 160 218 334**
100 187** 9.5 13.6 208 453** 141
036 188* 9.9 16.3** 298** 385** 322**
109 189** 7.6 12.3 127 188 161
007 191** 11.7 67.1** 6349** 619** 1005**
018 193** 5.8 16.7** 412** 272 235**
050 210 4.0 25.3** 464** 727** 121
108 214 6.0 31.1** 264 523** 315**
041 216 7.2 19.1** 418** 360** 288*
126 224 6.5 8.8 103 361** 121
005 231 12.5 17.1** 269 825** 276**
024 235 13.0 18.5** 2946** 232 289**
111 237 6.3 14.6 135 380** 203
023 239 4.1 21.9** 385** 775** 279**
010 256 12.9 11.5 652** 119 144
055 258 6.8 7.5 189 342 185
102 259 10.9 23.9** 1894** 423** 400**
026 260 18.5 20.4** 1949** 295 248**
107 262 13.1 10.1 231 628** 153
038 269 7.6 15.7 222 152 152
140 277 4.0 29.1** 744** 602** 254**
074 278 5.2 24.1** 699** 296 187
002 278 14.6 14.8 554** 259 277**
019 282 8.5 12.4 329** 262 161
035 287 5.8 9.8 230 390** 218
049 290 3.9 33.0** 140 275 138
078 290 10.9 12.5 197 240 209
045 291 8.7 9.5 162 613** 132
092 294 14.9 19.3** 500** 246 167
137 297 6.8 10.1 631** 340 184
072 298 6.7 19.7** 375** 302 246**
149 310 8.3 16.1 314** 199 149
047 312 4.9 15.9 277** 271 173
060 312 9.4 8.0 100 228 203
046 314 6.5 16.2 142 336 125
093 318 6.4 16.5** 304** 361** 130
014 321 14.5 10.7 275** 233 170
088 327 7.1 17.8** 263 507** 258**
032 340 6.6 8.6 150 133 133
147 347 7.6 18.2** 305** 219 265**
001 351 4.7 20.8** 199 402** 223
090 353 4.9 20.7** 144 419** 178
008 358 5.4 11.6 372** 529** 177
104 360 12.7 12.1 260 89 77
110 370 3.0** 17.1** 456** 297 150
103 371 18.7 14.5 257 219 180
056 373 6.5 12.4 236 415** 189
048 374 3.6** 9.7 167 237 230**
131 377 10.9 13.6 256 220 85
122 378 76 21.9** 906** 227 196
004 385 8.6 10.3 109 288 92
120 390 9.8 22.9** 499** 529** 260**
138 405 6.9 14.7 334** 238 188
141 407 8.1 14.3 168 259 263**
101 408 5.9 9.2 160 134 40
145 410 3.7** 25.4** 567** 550 349**
027 415 11.1 10.6 169 278 164
028 418 5.6 34.6** 608** 589** 351**
011 420 10.6 18.8** 683** 1014** 282**
081 421 6.6 16.5** 861** 641** 531**
033 423 4.2 16.3** 156 194 170
057 425 18.3 13.5 209 381** 321**
021 427 18.9 12.1 223 524** 168
135 430 8.8 13.5 284** 412** 180
097 435 15.4 10.9 353** 465** 119
052 438 6.8 15.2 281** 372** 238**
132 448 12.6 16.8** 1931** 394** 250**
086 451 12.1 6.6 139 208 107
148 458 13.9 11.4 187 322 238**
012 466 15.3 8.3 560** 250 144
083 466 12.0 13.7 366** 214 193
133 470 13.8 10.8 290** 275 55
017 475 4.0 39.6** 196 467** 220
053 476 13.4 12.3 226 206 125
009 482 6.5 25.3** 240 470** 214
066 498 9.6 12.9 374** 233 92
031 507 11.0 14.8 173 278 220
099 507 10.4 9.6 124 233 63
128 507 4.6 9.4 294** 324 176
013 514 11.3 15.9 163
151 522 7.8 14.3 370** 324 215
077 523 6.8 17.7** 184 210 214
079 523 15.6 13.0 316** 223 251**
054 524 4.9 10.0 148 230 123
020 524 9.9 14.2 235 366** 190
069 528 7.0 9.7 257 281 83
085 536 4.0 22.5** 97 191 114
084 551 14.2 12.5 166 179 131
082 559 12.3 14.6 208 371** 182
117 560 3.4** 18.8** 102 176 88
061 561 12.7 9.8 170 404** 152
006 567 4.6 16.8** 138 688** 165
129 567 4.9 16.2 363** 495** 331**
003 570 11.4 12.9 189 330 230**
115 576 6.3 17.8** 128 231 95
089 578 10.3 12.0 147 258 236**
143 581 2.6** 42.7** 165 555** 208
114 583 5.1 16.6** 599** 660** 177
080 593 9.5 18.0** 208 289 142
015 598 7.0 12.4 167 381** 95
039 598 9.6 18.1** 691** 719** 354**
070 612 5.6 13.7 197 296 82
051 622 12.9 8.3 119 246 150
139 628 8.5 7.8 145 166 83
150 628 8.6 14.5 295** 315 183
043 635 5.9 13.7 239 272 189
096 651 17.4 9.7 326**
073 657 7.0 9.5 186 283 78
127 665 5.8 8.1 166 344** 147
121 677 10.2 9.5 226 346** 173
034 694 15.9 12.1 406** 592** 584**
124 697 9.7 11.0 63 179 60
123 702 10.4 10.6 186 148 96
113 705 7.6 8.4 107 534** 92
071 709 10.6 11.3 207 584** 141
076 722 8.1 10.5 271 489** 138
044 724 7.3 12.1 212 683** 217
040 731 15.1 7.4 205 149 136
062 741 4.4 18.7** 153 856** 416**
025 741 10.0 12.2 224 344** 121
119 755 5.9 10.1 187 377** 61
075 757 10.0 24.7** 246 345** 276**
098 759 13.8 13.9 380** 239 156
134 769 7.5 10.4 125 131 81
087 773 25.0 10.1 181 285 135
142 788 4.6 12.1 166 273 129
064 792 15.4 8.6 218 299 139
094 793 16.6 10.0 186 179 173
022 808 8.8 14.4 184 271 161
112 812 12.0 9.2 181 184 108
125 817 14.4 11.0 158 242 72
106 862 5.3 9.2 94 300 95
146 890 13.9 11.9 135
058 897 5.3 18.5** 154 460** 80
063 943 17.8 19.7** 277** 642** 306**
095 960 25.3 10.7 135 181 111
152 963 9.4 8.8 198
130 971 15.9 13.5 106 307 84
059 1063 9.4 9.7 129 378** 54
105 1109 11.0 6.1 87 155 64
136 1163 6.0 13.1 250 565** 122
065 1251 14.5 10.7 88 147 88
029 1490 22.2 9.7 129 111 105
144 1536 7.0 17.7** 216 694** 418**
068 1809 12.7 10.4 59 128 39

TABLE 3
SERUM METABOLITE & VITAMIN LEVELS IN A GERIATRIC
NURSING HOME POPULATION
Patient B12 Folate Homocysteine Methylmalonic Acid
NH170   8** 14.0 34.8**  3365**
NH129  40** 7.4 40.9**  6245**
NH156  44** 22.4 17.4**  1130**
NH139  56** 9.7 20.9**  1180**
NH132  67** 7.6 92.4** 12641**
NH176  129** 9.2 20.3**  1156**
NH196  136** 6.2 41.0**  1077**
NH109  139** 9.8 20.9**  1294**
NH203  146** 4.3 12.2  437**
NH141  161** 13.4 12.2  223
NH178  172** 8.2 5.9  141
NH103  189** 5.5 13.1  362**
NH181  196** 6.3 14.7  296**
NH160  206 11.9 12.5  640**
NH197  221 24.0 10.5  654**
NH073  222 3.6** 19.8**  490**
NH110  227 5.5 13.7  1297**
NH010  228 4.0 21.1**  413**
NH012  234 8.7 16.0  596**
NH037  236 11.5 22.5** 11299**
NH114  238 12.8 13.2  442**
NH211  240 6.0 14.1  166
NH075  250 9.3 12.1  170
NH172  255 7.2 14.4  552**
NH148  259 5.7 19.2**  317**
NH138  264 9.2 16.7**  340**
NH150  264 4.0 13.7   98
NH099  272 5.5 12.5  125
NH124  275 6.9 11.5   87
NH179  301 7.6 7.1  143
NH135  302 6.5 23.4**  397**
NH087  304 7.8 10.8  327**
NH180  304 5.8 10.5  237
NH209  306 7.6 11.9  105
NH107  310 3.3** 8.6  148
NH081  320 4.3 23.6**  470**
NH068  324 7.9 13.4  243
NH183  325 7.7 11.1  144
NH033  330 13.8 7.7  149
NH161  333 8.5 11.3  385**
NH192  337 10.7 9.5  209
NH136  340 6.7 18.2**  409**
NH191  342 20.2 13.4  271
NH137  343 4.0 15.6  183
NH182  346 8.2 14.4  448**
NH020  347 8.4 10.4  149
NH165  351 18.5 11.8  425**
NH095  352 8.5 14.5  366**
NH194  361 4.3 20.3**  305**
NH106  362 4.8 12.9  298**
NH060  367 4.7 16.4**   71
NH009  368 5.1 15.9  325**
NH071  382 4.9 12.9  330**
NH080  390 6.1 15.0  171
NH013  407 6.7 12.4  310**
NH126  409 9.2 17.4**  137
NH030  411 11.2 10.4  844**
NH210  413 8.6 11.9  210
NH158  414 5.7 16.2  508**
NH027  416 10.2 15.5  769**
NH003  424 16.5 9.5  167
NH187  429 4.7 8.8  439**
NH022  430 10.5 14.0  214
NH082  436 10.6 17.7**  340**
NH162  438 6.1 19.2**  180
NH021  439 5.3 15.1  191
NH056  447 11.7 10.9  184
NH119  448 3.2** 14.1  241
NH120  448 5.6 12.0  138
NH186  450 4.7 23.1**  213
NH064  451 6.9 10.6  237
NH057  453 14.6 10.4  282**
NH131  454 8.1 16.2  258
NH059  462 6.0 9.1  147
NH202  465 3.3** 17.0**  393**
NH134  475 15.3 11.6  321**
NH083  475 7.4 10.6  178
NH199  479 15.1 10.4  141
NH042  482 6.0 15.0  141
NH200  491 13.6 9.8  154
NH213  497 8.1 10.0   92
NH143  500 5.2 22.1**  175
NH031  502 6.4 16.1  151
NH188  504 12.5 15.1  1461**
NH171  504 10.7 12.9  344**
NH008  505 4.6 9.9  185
NH102  506 16.6 9.1  236
NH145  512 7.7 22.2**  161
NH093  514 5.1 17.7**  185
NH118  524 25.0 10.1  314**
NH185  524 8.7 12.1   84
NH111  527 5.1 18.4**  250
NH149  530 12.6 18.2**  531**
NH011  534 8.1 12.5  654**
NH128  540 4.3 11.6  120
NH035  547 7.5 9.8  193
NH005  551 17.7 5.0  365**
NH212  552 11.9 12.1  202
NH007  554 6.4 26.1**  646**
NH086  554 9.5 5.1  127
NH069  555 22.7 6.8  134
NH121  555 8.2 10.0  112
NH117  571 6.6 9.7  351**
NH055  581 14.8 9.1  265
NH025  581 5.2 15.3  181
NH104  583 3.9 14.6  1699**
NH173  583 11.2 10.6  160
NH177  584 6.2 5.7  111
NH207  586 8.5 16.4**  243
NH070  591 5.4 12.0  168
NH038  592 8.0 8.8  230
NH049  599 10.7 21.7**  238
NH062  606 4.5 7.7   96
NH153  608 7.7 13.6  221
NH206  611 6.6 16.4**  400**
NH018  614 6.3 10.9  123
NH163  616 5.0 9.6  132
NH189  619 7.6 12.0  158
NH045  620 21.0 12.4  265
NH074  621 10.2 9.2  172
NH054  623 8.0 9.8  121
NH152  625 8.2 7.8  206
NH140  637 21.7 13.6  300**
NH050  642 16.3 13.5  275**
NH089  644 7.7 16.7**  444**
NH036  649 7.9 10.7   68
NH097  651 6.6 13.4  426**
NH016  656 4.1 61.0**  356**
NH053  657 14.2 10.6  320**
NH066  658 7.7 11.4  228
NH051  659 4.0 10.7  216
NH108  671 5.8 24.0**  823**
NH058  673 6.0 11.2  392**
NH028  675 22.3 9.1  105
NH204  678 4.7 10.2  148
NH169  679 6.9 19.2**  267
NH032  681 12.7 5.9   99
NH065  682 11.0 13.5  176
NH061  683 13.4 9.6  190
NH116  685 9.0 7.5  244
NH015  699 6.8 16.8**  236
NH157  711 10.0 12.8  198
NH155  715 10.0 17.6**  308**
NH034  715 7.9 11.4  179
NH040  717 10.5 15.7  256
NH105  718 6.0 13.2  308**
NH048  719 8.0 10.8  207
NH084  720 6.8 9.4  169
NH115  724 16.3 9.4  161
NH205  734 8.5 13.3  232
NH113  738 11.7 10.3  171
NH154  738 13.7 9.6  123
NH167  741 17.0 6.6  129
NH190  752 5.2 14.1  254
NH067  760 22.5 9.5  232
NH014  767 8.9 7.3  100
NH072  768 8.3 6.9  131
NH133  772 8.8 20.4**  219
NH122  778 6.0 10.4  108
NH076  781 12.1 14.9  282**
NH147  785 7.5 24.5**  411**
NH026  786 9.7 8.3  146
NH151  789 24.4 11.1  182
NH198  797 10.9 10.7  158
NH088  801 6.4 18.3**  184
NH004  806 11.3 8.8   96
NH024  818 5.1 14.1  219
NH100  826 16.4 10.5  103
NH078  831 7.2 10.3  266
NH052  844 19.6 8.0  193
NH142  848 18.6 12.1  398**
NH002  862 9.4 11.3  212
NH091  891 4.9 12.6  169
NH127  897 22.0 8.4  132
NH096  901 9.3 5.2  104
NH201  910 25.0 15.7  424**
NH184  941 21.5 10.8  170
NH208  945 20.2 9.8  111
NH130  968 22.4 10.4  339**
NH164  989 8.0 16.8**  102
NH077 1006 15.1 9.2  188
NH017 1015 11.9 9.5  175
NH029 1053 18.6 11.4  161
NH023 1055 9.3 9.7  193
NH047 1079 6.4 11.4  106
NH043 1082 14.5 13.9  144
NH195 1088 36.9 12.2  150
NH193 1092 8.2 15.7  225
NH046 1093 9.2 18.8**  186
NH101 1108 3.9 8.1  139
NH098 1117 11.3 12.5   88
NH168 1124 25.2 15.0  203
NH006 1126 6.9 8.1  159
NH144 1135 8.0 21.9**  262
NH044 1159 26.8 10.2  109
NH175 1162 7.8 12.0  210
NH146 1179 9.8 10.1  129
NH112 1238 10.3 15.0  347**
NH001 1304 13.1 6.9  142
NH166 1337 13.4 8.3   67
NH079 1346 18.0 12.0  248
NH041 1528 20.7 8.2  155
NH063 1559 15.0 7.0   66
NH159 1566 6.6 15.5  451**
NH125 1703 8.2 20.6**  153
NH094 1768 15.9 8.4  182
NH123 2028 10.2 16.8**  206
NH174 2106 13.3 12.8  280**
NH039 2227 23.8 8.9  119
NH019 2297 11.1 15.5  177
NH092 2360 5.7 9.8  131
NH085 3141 22.0 26.9**  1947**

TABLE 4
SERUM METABOLITE & VITAMIN LEVELS IN A GERIATRIC
POPULATION
Patient B12 Folate Homocysteine MMA
495  77** 10.0 65.4** 3145**
484  84** 10.0 77.5** 6820**
522  100** 3.6** 15.5  967**
455  115** 1.9** 21.8**  170
493  135** 4.4 16.9**  421**
528  145** 3.9 38.3**  729**
510  155** 4.6 14.1  804**
502  155** 2.1** 16.9**  347**
412  160** 18.5** 33.8** 1301**
409  160** 4.8 16.8**  164
470  165** 9.2 19.9** 1468**
460  165** 6.8 11.5  142
437  170** 4.9 16.5**  813
439  170** 1.2** 21.3**  502**
525  175** 11.5 15.3 1058**
442  175** 4.2 17.5**  328**
456  180** 7.3 11.1  206
450  180** 5.0 11.8  196
477  185** 3.4** 31.4**  369**
508  190** 4.1 19.5**  335**
423  190** 2.5** 19.0**  329**
462  190** 3.8 11.6  276**
523  190** 5.6 16.8**  207
482  190** 2.9** 25.1**  179
459  190** 5.3 19.6**  167
543  195** 4.3 13.5  470**
520  195** 1.7** 22.2**  309**
431  195** 7.2 13.5  251
513  200 5.0 25.0** 1184**
534  200 4.9 32.6** 1080**
515  200 4.9 17.3**  478**
531  200 5.1 26.8**  466**
516  200 3.6** 17.8**  279**
526  200 1.6** 23.5**  171
471  205 5.7 22.0**  542**
413  205 2.6** 20.4**  304**
497  205 3.3** 19.4**  258
539  205 4.1 15.4  247
544  205 12.5 11.7  233
540  205 4.0 17.1**  185
517  205 2.2** 15.0  151
496  210 3.7** 15.2 1103**
488  210 16.5 21.8**  600**
416  215 12.5 10.0  197
434  220 7.1 24.8**  439**
545  220 11.5 14.4  407**
547  220 5.3 17.5**  396**
408  220 3.2** 16.4**  357**
449  220 3.7** 13.7  272**
507  220 8.5 10.0  179
458  225 10.5 21.1**  964**
491  225 7.2 16.0  472**
529  230 2.0** 61.1 1172**
415  230 3.2** 28.9**  377**
453  230 3.6** 19.8**  336**
448  230 5.2 13.1  319**
498  230 5.9 20.1**  255
533  230 5.7 11.7  151
466  235 35.0 12.1  617**
537  235 5.7 10.7  394**
483  235 8.6 16.6**  344**
512  235 3.9 12.5  190
452  240 4.7 26.5** 1068**
454  240 5.2 11.9  201
535  240 4.4 15.3  195
421  245 10.5 12.5  464**
469  245 6.2 20.0**  448**
474  245 7.3 10.3  327**
486  245 9.2 12.6  156
536  250 22.5 20.3** 1068**
475  250 5.6 23.0  456**
511  250 2.7** 23.1**  398**
465  250 4.1 23.1**  323**
506  250 5.2 11.5  252
417  250 5.5 25.2**  241
524 1250 2.5** 14.4  212
411  250 9.9 11.5  200
492  250 5.2 10.7  182
548  250 2.9** 12.4  179
441  250 4.5 8.5  147
480  255 4.8 16.9**  558**
532  255 7.0 14.8  419**
464  255 11.5 12.9  400**
494  255 6.2 12.1  293**
106  255 4.5 11.7  203
546  260 5.5 14.7  662**
541  260 5.4 30.8**  426**
420  260 5.3 13.6  347**
500  260 6.7 14.0  330**
538  260 9.3 17.3**  298**
457  260 2.9** 12.6  286**
472  260 8.3 13.8  278**
424  260 8.3 10.1  242
433  260 6.8 10.5  197
425  265 7.3 14.7  724**
468  265 3.8 16.7**  289**
435  265 7.4 14.0  150
499  265 2.2** 12.4  131
432  270 4.3 28.3**  432**
521  270 3.7** 15.3  349**
549  270 4.21 12.4  343**
518  270 10.0 10.1  276**
418  270 26.0 9.4  213
419  270 6.5 12.5  212
428  270 4.2 18.7**  189
443  270 8.8 12.0  187
446  270 11.0 8.1  157
461  275 7.6 15.1  663**
440  275 4.9 12.9  248
436  275 6.3 30.1**  233
530  275 7.4 13.6  231
438  275 4.6 8.5  221
527  275 7.5 10.5  219
444  275 4.0 12.2  180
429  280 5.3 15.3  463**
503  280 4.4 25.7**  421**
485  280 3.5** 15.6  381**
410  280 14.5 10.0  201
487  280 3.9 10.5  166
430  280 9.2 8.8  161
519  285 3.9 22.2**  919**
476  285 10.5 12.8  339**
509  285 5.4 13.0  331**
501  285 5.5 12.4  252
542  285 6.9 15.5  242
445  285 7.2 14.9  237
427  285 4.0 17.1**  233
490  290 4.7 13.9  203
451  290 2.1** 20.0**  226
414  290 7.0 9.7  117
467  290 4.1 6.5  68
463  295 5.8 12.3  296**
473  295 7.5 14.4  290**
505  295 4.1 12.4  257
198  300 11.5 10.9  323**
195  300 9.8 12.2  216
207  305 7.7 13.2  330**
 67  305 8.6 15.4  312**
 50  305 9.0 11.6  235
 70  305 12.5 12.7  228
113  305 5.6 13.5  201
 39  305 6.9 19.7**  170
 3  305 4.2 11.5  135
325  305 14.5 9.4  94
368  310 4.7 15.9  371**
322  310 7.8 15.3  362**
295  310 7.2 13.8  305**
347  310 5.8 16.5**  266
313  310 6.1 16.5**  219
355  310 5.5 15.4  138
291  310 4.5 15.2  125
478  315 23.0 17.7**  857**
 53  315 5.8 12.1  505**
240  315 6.7 12.3  394**
 14  315 9.6 14.2  331**
137  315 7.8 24.3**  306**
254  315 8.7 17.0**  285**
109  315 3.7** 16.5**  263
252  315 5.2 10.1  241
186  315 4.1 15.4  238
183  315 5.5 10.7  195
390  315 6.9 10.0  188
267  315 2.2** 12.0  124
310  320 12.0 13.8  395**
 31  320 17.0 12.9  334**
 88  320 4.8 13.8  217
403  320 9.6 11.3  162
 60  320 6.2 11.4  155
315  320 6.4 9.9  136
175  325 6.3 17.8**  486**
317  325 22.0 14.0  294**
 18  325 6.3 11.1  241
247  325 13.5 13.2  231
223  325 9.2 12.6  203
132  325 3.7** 15.4  184
168  325 4.3 10.2  174
238  325 5.5 9.9  166
117  325 5.2 15.0  154
404  330 2.5** 33.1** 1085**
138  330 4.8 11.3  360**
316  330 3.6** 10.2  272**
 61  330 5.1 12.5  242
333  330 34.0 9.2  235
 16  330 4.6 13.3  211
276  330 5.7 11.9  200
391  330 4.1 8.4  184
362  330 9.2 11.7  178
 1  330 9.9 8.9  170
379  335 16.0 12.1  471**
147  335 9.0 9.7  427**
 89  335 8.0 15.3  385**
211  335 5.0 12.2  374**
 45  335 5.9 16.3**  250
 47  335 5.0 13.6  249
402  335 4.7 13.5  230
314  335 7.6 9.7  203
150  335 4.8 11.2  119
120  340 1.9** 21.0**  775**
284  340 7.2 25.6**  439**
230  340 14.0 11.4  419**
149  340 8.8 18.9**  337**
269  340 3.9 16.2  302**
197  340 10.5 12.8  233
 19  340 9.6 11.0  232
422  340 3.1** 14.4  188
196  340 11.5 8.9  169
 40  345 8.7 14.6  610**
244  345 8.6 15.8  461**
287  345 5.7 18.1**  427**
100  345 8.3 14.8  403**
383  345 4.3 27.2**  284**
 62  345 19.5 9.6  250
350  345 8.0 10.0  249
 65  345 8.0 10.2  247
307  345 16.5 11.6  208
 69  345 17.0 9.9  197
328  345 7.5 8.9  192
 43  345 6.0 13.2  191
222  345 6.1 9.2  175
306  345 4.3 17.2**  160
154  345 7.1 10.2  148
 94  350 4.8 16.1  302**
201  350 6.1 9.9  200
 13  350 5.1 10.9  193
236  355 7.2 14.8  309**
191  355 5.8 15.3  257
481  355 5.2 17.1**  134
 92  360 4.2 25.2**  321**
324  360 3.8 16.6**  264
 87  360 3.3** 13.3  200
 46  360 5.4 11.1  179
289  360 9.5 7.9  129
392  360 5.1 10.3  125
320  365 6.4 17.3**  240
134  365 13.5 11.8  238
239  365 7.7 13.2  236
326  365 6.0 10.9  180
364  365 4.1 13.9  154
218  365 7.5 11.2  126
216  365 6.2 12.2  119
248  365 5.7 13.3  117
375  370 4.1 20.7**  532**
288  370 6.4 18.8**  436**
161  370 6.3 11.2  340**
244  370 19.5 9.8  286**
330  370 18.0 12.2  228
334  370 12.5 8.7  172
275  370 6.9 12.7  162
 54  375 7.3 10.1  583**
185  375 9.3 10.5  386**
 52  375 8.1 15.5  291**
366  375 5.0 12.5  280**
 93  375 3.3** 16.2  248
151  375 2.9** 12.3  235
 85  375 6.7 14.8  217
294  375 7.0 12.2  184
361  375 7.9 10.7  179
318  375 5.5 13.7  160
386  375 7.6 10.4  153
304  375 9.1 9.4  132
228  380 7.7 17.1**  320**
110  380 4.0 7.2  135
204  380 5.7 10.6  91
348  385 2.3** 17.4**  368**
146  385 11.5 12.5  253
260  385 5.5 13.7  211
136  385 3.6** 19.8**  205
338  385 5.0 16.2  180
376  385 3.6** 13.7  154
194  385 12.5 7.9  153
504  385 38.0 9.5  138
160  390 8.1 24.7**  475**
354  390 11.5 12.8  212
 25  390 5.1 11.3  205
387  390 8.7 8.4  162
 86  390 21.0 12.6  133
133  390 3.9 11.3  113
331  395 12.0 20.1**  638**
130  395 10.5 10.8  256
 82  395 2.8** 9.8  236
119  395 12.5 16.3**  209
380  395 10.5 14.3  159
373  395 5.5 11.6  152
256  395 10.5 9.9  149
384  395 7.3 14.7  116
105  400 19.0 10.5  322**
251  400 4.8 14.9  289**
352  400 11.5 9.6  181
279  400 4.5 11.7  170
339  400 7.4 13.6  168
381  405 6.7 12.4  294**
285  405 7.0 14.2  281**
340  405 3.6** 19.6**  275**
 51  405 6.5 14.3  233
 33  405 6.5 9.6  207
268  405 3.3** 14.9  205
 73  405 5.2 13.1  172
 17  410 7.5 16.2  473**
286  410 4.7 18.8**  415**
140  410 5.9 21.7**  302**
116  410 6.8 14.5  218
396  410 5.6 16.1  190
356  410 1.9** 27.6**  149
237  410 3.6** 16.6**  122
112  410 5.5 8.9  107
259  410 4.7 11.6  99
176  415 5.2 21.9**  453**
193  415 10.5 11.3  163
323  415 6.1 9.6  163
202  415 11.5 9.4  150
398  415 8.0 12.6  134
321  420 5.2 10.7  383**
142  420 29.0 8.3  234
327  420 3.2** 14.6  203
342  420 7.3 9.4  156
170  420 20.5 10.3  142
345  420 29.5 13.2  136
302  420 8.6 8.8  128
115  425 6.3 22.2**  628**
 97  425 12.5 19.8**  313**
246  425 8.7 15.1  241
 72  425 10.5 13.5  241
365  425 6.7 16.7**  237
139  425 12.5 10.4  224
143  425 8.1 13.5  216
426  425 19.5 14.5  201
303  425 3.0** 14.5  154
388  425 6.2 12.3  135
127  425 6.7 8.4  100
262  430 10.0 12.1  323**
270  430 4.8 12.9  293**
514  430 4.3 12.9  197
341  430 3.5** 19.9**  190
278  430 5.2 10.8  182
370  430 11.0 15.3  174
 55  430 7.6 11.0  162
274  430 5.0 8.2  131
367  430 17.5 8.0  126
 98  430 13.5 12.8  125
337  435 13.5 14.1  395**
309  435 8.7 12.9  349**
305  435 17.5 15.4  187
144  435 25.0 8.9  167
 34  435 8.6 7.6  157
234  435 9.7 9.2  116
123  440 9.6 12.2  622**
200  440 4.8 12.4  257
250  440 7.5 12.9  248
107  440 6.3 14.7  183
300  440 6.5 7.9  123
374  445 5.4 14.0  247
372  445 11.0 11.0  181
 36  445 4.0 10.0  181
271  445 7.2 10.4  124
242  445 15.5 9.6  112
264  445 6.0 10.7  100
172  450 11.5 14.9  607**
 32  450 11.5 13.6  362**
346  450 13.5 15.8  330**
 41  450 8.5 11.4  194
 95  450 5.1 12.5  182
357  455 6.3 14.4  296**
319  455 17.0 10.2  147
308  455 15.0 9.8  131
235  455 23.0 9.0  114
349  455 9.2 8.3  82
178  460 5.6 20.6**  473**
312  460 4.7 14.4  197
 79  460 5.0 10.4  173
131  460 18.0 10.2  162
243  460 2.6** 11.6  160
261  465 7.7 10.6  252
378  465 5.4 13.2  221
 49  465 47.0 10.8  179
226  465 7.7 10.2  173
377  465 5.6 8.5  143
253  465 10.0 7.0  138
 76  470 12.5 14.8  304**
203  470 15.0 7.6  233
296  470 23.5 11.0  161
382  470 5.3 11.1  109
 6  475 10.5 12.5  232
 75  475 4.5 8.1  150
332  475 9.4 10.0  144
290  475 14.0 9.1  143
128  475 5.9 9.3  133
124  475 6.0 13.5  111
177  475 8.8 9.1  106
126  480 11.0 11.0  212
283  480 5.2 10.6  175
209  480 10.5 10.5  175
293  480 6.8 15.5  135
121  485 4.7 20.0**  345**
282  485 12.0 10.9  236
 71  485 13.5 8.1  168
385  485 9.0 14.1  128
190  495 9.9 10.4  410**
210  495 8.6 12.0  243
155  495 5.9 10.4  219
336  495 13.5 9.9  135
280  500 8.7 14.5  334**
 96  500 4.7 10.8  237
145  500 5.9 17.5**  233
199  500 4.2 13.8  199
489  500 11.5 9.7  198
217  500 6.4 9.6  166
 90  500 7.5 8.5  106
164  510 5.2 23.8**  408**
343  510 4.5 13.7  284**
 42  510 4.9 7.4  233
351  510 8.5 11.0  207
299  510 12.0 8.0  104
 99  520 10.5 25.8**  322**
114  520 30.0 10.9  220
369  520 29.0 16.7**  206
 37  520 10.5 8.6  191
215  520 6.7 16.8**  151
401  520 7.5 12.6  148
229  520 7.9 11.0  116
135  520 3.2** 8.3  88
 81  530 6.8 14.8  372**
 91  530 14.5 10.6  228
167  530 23.5 9.2  176
181  530 5.5 9.3  171
 56  530 20.0 8.3  163
 5  530 13.5 8.1  159
180  540 12.0 9.0  216
311  540 4.1 13.3  214
389  540 3.9 13.9  169
125  540 5.5 13.0  159
 35  540 22.5 11.0  123
104  550 10.5 16.5**  544**
393  550 4.9 11.9  339**
394  550 23.0 14.0  278**
292  550 6.9 16.2  263
163  550 6.7 14.3  219
 66  550 10.5 11.6  206
 29  550 17.5 9.6  191
227  550 7.9 11.7  154
 38  550 7.5 11.9  152
241  550 10.5 9.8  100
102  550 9.7 8.6  91
 77  560 24.0 14.8  554**
162  560 10.5 11.8  275**
273  560 8.7 9.4  180
 80  560 6.3 11.2  108
255  560 8.8 9.9  93
122  570 66.0 13.8  304**
208  570 34.0 10.2  255
 23  570 21.5 8.3  241
447  570 25.0 10.0  164
225  570 5.7 12.2  154
174  570 7.1 11.0  127
 11  570 19.0 8.9  113
165  580 10.5 14.8  226
182  580 8.9 8.2  189
245  590 15.5 10.0  262
 83  590 17.5 8.3  199
166  590 11.5 9.4  188
158  590 7.3 10.7  166
187  590 4.5 11.0  146
156  590 23.5 11.3  112
231  600 9.5 9.0  192
 78  600 11.5 9.4  151
329  610 15.0 7.3  312**
 57  610 16.0 11.9  286**
 7  610 12.0 10.4  195
277  610 9.5 7.8  153
108  620 13.5 8.4  191
205  620 18.0 7.5  145
263  620 9.8 10.2  101
 9  630 4.9 11.4  300**
111  630 8.3 11.1  276**
 68  630 11.5 8.9  143
399  630 14.0 11.0  90
266  640 5.1 15.7  364**
 12  640 24.5 9.0  233
152  640 8.1 10.0  209
405  640 7.0 12.8  186
 27  640 22.5 8.4  136
258  640 8.3 11.2  120
249  640 8.7 9.1  81
297  650 16.0 10.0  279**
192  650 4.9 14.9  213
257  650 3.3** 16.3**  208
184  650 12.5 9.9  193
 58  650 18.5 10.7  172
301  650 16.0 15.5  162
397  650 12.5 8.4  146
272  650 11.0 7.4  120
153  650 7.1 13.1  116
406  650 6.6 5.8  81
 10  660 9.0 7.6  154
 26  660 22.0 8.3  132
265  670 3.9 19.3**  509**
359  670 21.0 8.3  269
 48  670 32.0 9.9  262
335  670 11.5 8.1  121
189  680 6.6 17.9**  358**
220  680 15.5 10.9  115
 15  690 13.5 13.4  159
 44  700 20.0 12.7  244
 21  700 13.5 10.2  129
 74  700 15.0 7.1  65
 4  710 29.0 8.5  266
353  710 11.5 11.4  206
281  710 10.5 9.6  185
 2  710 8.0 8.5  109
212  740 20.0 11.1  250
 8  740 12.0 11.5  216
206  750 12.5 8.3  116
101  770 14.5 12.7  372**
344  770 32.0 11.7  297**
 20  770 35.0 10.1  245
407  770 10.5 12.0  110
360  780 2.7** 20.9**  157
232  790 15.5 10.1  151
141  790 12.5 9.5  74
129  800 8.7 11.7  211
188  800 15.0 12.3  174
400  800 12.5 10.3  156
 24  810 23.0 7.5  194
173  830 35.0 11.4  243
214  830 21.5 12.0  187
 63  830 13.8 8.8  185
148  830 45.0 7.1  146
 84  830 23.5 7.0  136
179  830 16.5 6.6  96
171  840 23.5 11.2  195
 28  870 5.8 15.9  197
233  870 7.9 12.7  169
221  870 40.0 7.0  126
371  880 20.0 8.5  152
213  890 10.5 18.0**  231
358  900 21.0 8.3  149
298  910 15.5 10.2  221
118  910 100.0 9.7  170
479  950 11.5 12.1  188
 30  950 6.2 10.5  170
159 1000 9.5 8.7  281**
219 1050 37.0 14.3  313**
103 1050 12.5 10.3  154
 59 1150 17.5 7.3  180
157 1250 12.0 14.0  206
363 1350 28.0 10.4  190
 22 1400 13.5 10.4  233
 64 1400 31.0 9.7  149
169 1450 15.0 9.5  150

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of preventing vascular disease in a human, comprising periodically administering orally a single formulation having between 0.3 and 10 mg vitamin B12 and 0.1 and 0.4 mg folic acid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 0.4 mg folic acid.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said vascular disease is cardiovascular disease.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said vascular disease is stroke.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said vascular disease is peripheral vascular disease.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said vascular disease is associated with renal disease.

7. A method of preventing vascular disease in a human, comprising periodically administering orally a single formulation having between 0.3 and 10 mg vitamin B12, and 0.1 and 0.4 mg folic acid, and 5 and 75 mg vitamin B6.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 0.4 mg folic acid and 25 mg vitamin B6.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said vascular disease is cardiovascular disease.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said vascular disease is stroke.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said vascular disease is peripheral vascular disease.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said vascular disease is associated with renal disease.

13. A method of preventing vascular disease in a human, comprising periodically administering orally a single formulation having between 0.3 and 10 mg vitamin B12 and 0.4 and 10.0 mg folic acid.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 1.0 mg folic acid.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 2.0 mg folic acid.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 2.5 mg folic acid.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the formulation includes approximately 1 mg vitamin B12 and 2.0 mg folic acid.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the formulation includes approximately 1 mg vitamin B12 and 2.5 mg folic acid.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said vascular disease is cardiovascular disease.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said vascular disease is stroke.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein said vascular disease is peripheral vascular disease.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein said vascular disease is associated with renal disease.

23. A method of preventing vascular disease in a human, comprising periodically administering orally a single formulation having between 0.3 and 10 mg vitamin B12, and 0.4 and 10 mg folic acid, and 5 and 75 mg vitamin B6.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 1.0 mg folic acid and 25 mg vitamin B6.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 2.0 mg folic acid and 25 mg vitamin B6.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the formulation includes approximately 2 mg vitamin B12 and 2.5 mg folic acid and 25 mg vitamin B6.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the formulation includes approximately 1 mg B12 and 2.0 mg folic acid and 25 mg vitamin B6.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the formulation includes approximately 1 mg B12 and 2.5 mg folic acid and 25 mg vitamin B6.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein said vascular disease is cardiovascular disease.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein said vascular disease is stroke.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein said vascular disease is peripheral vascular disease.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein said vascular disease is associated with renal disease.

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