Vitamins B6, B9 (folic acid), B12 and Memory
The B vitamins help convert food into energy, boost the
production of neurotransmitters and are essential for maintaining healthy brain
cells (1) (2). About half of people over the age of 50 are deficient in
vitamins B6 and B12 (3).
Vitamins B6, B9 and B12 help lower homocysteine levels.
Elevated homocysteine is associated with many health issues including memory loss (4). Homocysteine is a byproduct of metabolism. In turn, we need vitamins B6, B9, and B12 to metabolize homocysteine (5)(6). Therefore, deficiencies in these vitamins are linked to elevated homocysteine.
A study from 2021 determined the relationship between elevated homocysteine and the development of insulin resistance (7). Insulin resistance is known to be associated with memory loss among other health problems.
An additional study from 2021 confirmed those with memory problems had higher levels of homocysteine. It further suggested those with high homocysteine and low folic acid were susceptible to memory disease (5).
One study found elevated homocysteine could nearly double one’s chances of developing memory loss (6).
B vitamins could support memory.
After the age of 60, our brain is said to shrink at a rate of 0.5% each year. In those with mild memory loss, the brain shrinks at a yearly rate of 1% (9).
In a study, subjects with mild memory loss were given folic acid (vitamin B9), vitamin B6, and B12 or placebo for two years (10).
After two years, those in the vitamin B group who had high homocysteine levels before the study began experienced a 53% slowing of whole brain atrophy (shrinkage). In brain regions specific to memory, atrophy was slowed by 90%. Memory decline either slowed or stopped in those with initial high levels of homocysteine (10).
Aquilegy uses active B vitamins only.
The MTHFR gene mutation is fairly common (30-40% of us) but it may decrease the body’s ability to convert folic acid (vitamin B9) into its active form by up to 70% (11). It also compromises the body’s ability to maximally absorb vitamin B12.
Although people often do not know they have this mutation, increased difficulty absorbing vitamins B9 and B12 could lead to deficiencies.
Aquilegy only uses active form B vitamins to ensure maximum absorption and efficacy regardless of MTHFR status.
References:
1) Berry, J. (2019, May 28). Types of B vitamins: Functions, sources, and deficiencies. Medical News Today. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325292#what-are-b-vitamins
2) Cleveland Clinic. (2018, November 29). B is for brain health. Healthy Brains by Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://healthybrains.org/b-brain-health
3) Woolston, C. (2022, May 24). B vitamins: Folate, B-6 and B-12. HealthDay. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/food-and-nutrition-21/food-and-nutrition-news-316/b-vitamins-folate-b-6-and-b-12-647432.html
4) Smith, A. D., & Refsum, H. (2016). Homocysteine, B vitamins, and cognitive impairment. Annual Review of Nutrition, 36(1), 211–239. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071715-050947
5) Wang, Q., Zhao, J., Chang, H., Liu, X., & Zhu, R. (2021). Homocysteine and folic acid: Risk factors for alzheimer’s disease—an updated meta-analysis. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.665114
6) Seshadri, S., Beiser, A., Selhub, J., Jacques, P. F., Rosenberg, I. H., D’Agostino, R. B., Wilson, P. W. F., & Wolf, P. A. (2002). Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for dementia and alzheimer’s disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(7), 476–483. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa011613
7) Cleveland Clinic. (2018, November 29). B is for brain health. Healthy Brains by Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved June 4, 2022, from https://healthybrains.org/b-brain-health
8) Zhang, X., Qu, Y.-Y., Liu, L., Qiao, Y.-N., Geng, H.-R., Lin, Y., Xu, W., Cao, J., & Zhao, J.-Y. (2021). Homocysteine inhibits pro-insulin receptor cleavage and causes insulin resistance via protein cysteine-homocysteinylation. Cell Reports, 37(2), 109821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109821
9) Professor David Smith. (2020). How B Vitamins & Omega 3s Reverse Cognitive Decline. Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unguMlKkc74.
10) Douaud, G., Refsum, H., de Jager, C. A., Jacoby, R., E. Nichols, T., Smith, S. M., & Smith, A. D. (2013). Preventing alzheimer’s disease-related gray matter atrophy by B-Vitamin Treatment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(23), 9523–9528. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1301816110
11) Pietrzik, K., Bailey, L., & Shane, B. (2010). Folic acid and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 49(8), 535–548. https://doi.org/10.2165/11532990-000000000-00000