Serum vitamin B12, C and folate concentrations in the New Mexico elder health survey:: Correlations with cognitive and affective functions

Objectives: 1) To compare serum vitamin B-12. C and folate concentrations in a randomly selected sample of elderly (age 65 years or older) male and female Hispanics and nonHispanic whites (NHW) and 2) to examine associations between serum B-12. C and folate concentrations compared to measures of cognitive and affective (depression) functions. Methods: Equal numbers of male and female Hispanics and NHW were randomly sampled from the Wealth Care Financing Administration (Medicare) registrant list for Bernalillo County. New Mexico, and asked to volunteer for a paid home interview followed by a paid comprehensive interview/examination covering health and health-related issues. In addition to serum determinations of B-12, C and folate. associations were examined between these vitamins and measures of cognitive and affective functions. Results: Males and Hispanics had lower serum, vitamin B-12. C and folate concentrations than females and NHW respectively. Participants taking a multivitamin supplement (MVI) had higher serum vitamin concentrations than those not taking MVI. There were significant associations between serum folate concentrations and measures of cognitive function, not seen with B-12 or C. nor between any of the vitamins and affective function. Conclusions: Hispanics, even after adjustments for gender, age, vitamin supplementation, vitamin content of dietary foods, education and household income, had lower serum concentrations of B-12, C and folate than NHW. The most significant associations observed were those between serum folate and various measures of cognitive function. even after adjusting for presence of depression.