Folate Benefits : CerefolinNAC®
A medical food for the dietary management of neurovascular oxidative stress and/or hyperhomocysteinemia.
Folate Benefits
Folate Benefits Supports Cognitive Performance Needs.
A recent study showed that "3-year folate therapy gave an individual who is B12 replete the performance of someone:"
The study published in The Lancet reported that "in 818 older adults, daily oral folic acid supplementation for 3 years beneficially affected global cognitive function, and specifically memory, and information processing: functions that are sensitive to aging".1
The study focused on individuals with suboptimal folate concentrations, average plasma total homocysteine concentrations of 13 µmol/L or more and B12 levels of at least 200 pmol/L.
At the end of the 3 year study their folate levels increased by 45% resulting in a 23% reduction of homocysteine level. Their cognitive performance also improved to someone nearly 5 years younger for memory (p=0.01), almost 2 years younger for sensorimotor speed (reaction time /p=0.05), 2 years younger for information processing speed (how fast one thinks/p=0.01) and 1½ years younger for global cognitive function (over all mental skills/p=0.03).
Durga J et al. The Lancet 2007; 369:208-216
Normal folate and normal B12 are not enough to decrease the risk of cognitive impairment1
According to a recent study appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition using the most current NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data on 1302 individuals greater than 60 years of age, normal folate and normal B12 were not enough to decrease the risk of cognitive impairment.
- High folate or normal folate along with low B12 increases the risk of cognitive impairment.
- Cerefolin®NAC provides 2mg methylcobalamin which "results in serum cobalamin concentrations that are more that 3 times greater that those obtained with a standard parenteral schedule of nine 1mg injections administered over a 4-month period."3
- Cerefolin®NAC is a unique combination of L-methylfolate and B12 (methylcobalamin) for the distinct nutritional requirements of those with cognitive impairment.
- The goal for these patients was found to be high folate and normal B12. This is the only combination that actually decreased the risk of cognitive impairment. (p<0.001)
- In patients with low B12 with normal or high folate, the risk of cognitive impairment was increased.
Older individuals are more prone to suboptimal levels of B12. As we age our bodies don't absorb vital cofactors such as B12 and folate. According to Morris et al., increasing folate levels and maintaining normal levels of B12 decreases ones risk of developing cognitive impairment.
References
- Durga J et al. Effect of a 3 year folic acid supplementation on cognitive function in older adults in the FACIT trial; a randomized, double blind, controlled trial. The Lancet 2007;369:208-216.
- Morris, MS et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2007:85:193-200
- Kuzminski A, et al. Effective treatment of cobalamin deficiency with oral cobalamin. Blood. 1998;92(4):1191-1198.