Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 769–778; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602570; published online 6 December 2006

Effect of fortified spread on homocysteine concentration in apparently healthy volunteers

T van Vliet1, R G J M Jacobs2, E de Deckere3, H van den Berg1,4, A de Bree3 and N M J van der Put3

  1. 1TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, The Netherlands
  2. 2Spread and Cooking Product Category (SCC), The Netherlands
  3. 3Unilever Health Institute, Unilever Research & Development, Vlaardingen (URDV), The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr A de Bree, Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, Unilever Research and Development Vlaardingen and Oliver van Noortlaan 120, 3133 AT Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. E-mail: angelika-de.bree@unilever.com

4Current address: Netherlands Nutrition Centre, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Received 25 November 2005; Revised 31 July 2006; Accepted 2 August 2006; Published online 6 December 2006.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To determine the effect of folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 fortified spreads on the blood concentrations of these vitamins and homocysteine.

Design and setting:

 

A 6-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel trial carried out in a clinical research center.

Subjects:

 

One hundred and fifty healthy volunteers (50% males).

Interventions:

 

For 6 weeks, the subjects consumed the test spreads (20 g/day): containing per 20 g (1) 200 mug folic acid, 2 mug vitamin B12 and 1 mg vitamin B6, or (2) 400 mug folic acid, 2 mug vitamin B12 and 1 mg vitamin B6 or (3) no B-vitamins (control spread).

Results:

 

The B-vitamin status increased on using the test spreads, with the largest effect on the serum folate concentration: 48% in men and 58% in women on spread 1 and 92 and 146%, respectively, on spread 2 (P-values all <0.05). The plasma homocysteine decreased in the groups treated with the fortified spreads as compared to the control group. Average decreases were for males: 0.7plusminus1.5 mumol/l (6.8%) on spread 1 and 1.7plusminus1.7 mumol/l (17.6%) on spread 2 and for females: 1.4plusminus1.2 mumol/l (14.2%) and 2.4plusminus2.0 mumol/l (23.3%), respectively (P-values all <0.05).

Conclusions:

 

Consumption of a spread fortified with folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 for 6 weeks significantly increases the blood concentrations of these vitamins and significantly decreases the plasma concentration of homocysteine. Fortified staple foods like spreads can contribute to the lowering of homocysteine concentrations.

Sponsorship:

 

Unilever Research and Development, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.

Keywords:

folic acid, vitamins B6, vitamin B12, homocysteine, functional foods

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