Serum vitamin B-12, 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 i n a randomly selected sample of elderly (age 65 years or older) male and fe male Hispanics and nonHispanic whites (NHW) and 2) to examine associations between serum B-12. C and folate concentrations compared to measures of cog nitive and affective (depression) functions. Methods: Equal numbers of male and female Hispanics and NHW were randomly s ampled from the Wealth Care Financing Administration (Medicare) registrant list for Bernalillo County. New Mexico, and asked to volunteer for a paid h ome interview followed by a paid comprehensive interview/examination coveri ng 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 co ncentrations than females and NHW respectively. Participants taking a multi vitamin supplement (MVI) had higher serum vitamin concentrations than those not taking MVI. There were significant associations between serum folate c oncentrations 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 sup plementation, vitamin content of dietary foods, education and household inc ome, had lower serum concentrations of B-12, C and folate than NHW. The mos t significant associations observed were those between serum folate and var ious measures of cognitive function. even after adjusting for presence of d epression.