The Claim
A daily supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid and 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 causes a reduction in homocysteine levels by an average of 3.6 μmol/L in healthy elderly individuals aged 75 years and older over a 12-week period, independent of baseline vitamin B status.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Taking a daily supplement with 400 micrograms of folic acid and 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 for 12 weeks lowers homocysteine levels by an average of 3.6 micromoles per liter in healthy people aged 75 and older, regardless of their initial vitamin B levels.
See the scientific wording
A daily supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid and 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 significantly reduces homocysteine levels by an average of 3.6 μmol/L in healthy elderly individuals aged 75 years and older over a 12-week period, regardless of their baseline vitamin B status, demonstrating a direct causal effect on this biomarker associated with cardiovascular and cognitive risk.
Folic acid turns into a form that donates a methyl group to homocysteine, and vitamin B12 helps an enzyme use that methyl group to turn homocysteine into methionine, which lowers homocysteine levels in the blood.
What the research says
1 studyThis study found that taking a daily pill with 400 mcg folic acid and 100 mcg B12 for 12 weeks lowered homocysteine levels by about 3.6 points in older adults — even if they weren’t deficient to begin with. So yes, the pill works as claimed.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.