Relationship between vitamin B12 and sensory and motor peripheral nerve function in older adults
Kira Leishear
Robert M. Boudreau
Stephanie A. Studenski
Luigi Ferrucci
Caterina Rosano
Nathalie de Rekeneire
Denise K. Houston
Stephen B. Kritchevsky
Ann V. Schwartz
Aaron I. Vinik
Eef Hogervorst
Kristine Yaffe
Tamara B. Harris
Anne B. Newman
Elsa S. Strotmeyer
2134/15098
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Relationship_between_vitamin_B12_and_sensory_and_motor_peripheral_nerve_function_in_older_adults/9613085
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether deficient B12 status
or low serum B12 levels are associated with worse sensory
and motor peripheral nerve function in older adults.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional.
SETTING: Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.
PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand two hundred and eightyseven
adults aged 72 to 83 (mean 76.5 ± 2.9; 51.4%
female; 38.3% black).
MEASUREMENTS: Low serum B12 was defined as
serum B12 less than 260 pmol/L, and deficient B12 status
was defined as B12 less than 260 pmol/L, methylmalonic
acid (MMA) greater than 271 nmol/L, and MMA greater
than 2-methylcitrate. Peripheral nerve function was
assessed according to peroneal nerve conduction amplitude
and velocity (NCV) (motor), 1.4 g/10 g monofilament
detection, average vibration threshold detection, and
peripheral neuropathy symptoms (numbness, aching or
burning pain, or both) (sensory). RESULTS: B12-deficient status was found in 7.0% of participants,
and an additional 10.1% had low serum B12
levels. B12 deficient status was associated with greater
insensitivity to light (1.4 g) touch (odds ratio = 1.50, 95%
confidence interval = 1.06–2.13) and worse NCV (42.3 vs
43.5 m/s) (b = 1.16, P = .01) after multivariable adjustment
for demographics, lifestyle factors, and health conditions.
Associations were consistent for the alternative
definition using low serum B12 only. No significant associations
were found for deficient B12 status or the alternative
low serum B12 definition and vibration detection,
nerve conduction amplitude, or peripheral neuropathy
symptoms.
CONCLUSION: Poor B12 (deficient B12 status and low
serum B12) is associated with worse sensory and motor
peripheral nerve function. Nerve function impairments
may lead to physical function declines and disability in
older adults, suggesting that prevention and treatment of
low B12 levels may be important to evaluate.
2014-07-02 14:50:36
Low B12
Deficient B12
Sensory peripheral nerve function
Motor nerve conduction
Older adults
Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified