Abstract
Vitamin B contributes to the overall health and wellbeing, including that of energy metabolism, methylation, synthesis and DNA repair and proper immune function. Deficiency in B vitamins has been linked to neurocognitive disorders, mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysfunction and inflammatory conditions. In ageing populations B vitamin deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular disorders, cognitive dysfunction, osteoporosis and methylation disorders and can increase the risk of developing degenerative diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, cognitive diseases and osteoporosis. Optimization of B vitamin status in the elderly may prove beneficial in the prevention of degenerative diseases. Here we discuss broadly the role of B vitamins in ageing.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Abdou E, Hazell AS (2014) Thiamine deficiency: an update of pathophysiologic mechanisms and future therapeutic considerations. Neurochem Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-014-1430-z
Almeida OP, Ford AH, Flicker L (2015) Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of folate and vitamin B12 for depression International psychogeriatrics. IPA 27:727–737. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610215000046
Arenth PM, Russell KC, Ricker JH, Zafonte RD (2011) CDP-choline as a biological supplement during neurorecovery: a focused review. PMR 3:S123–S131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.03.012
Ashoori M, Saedisomeolia A (2014) Riboflavin (vitamin B(2)) and oxidative stress: a review. Br J Nutr 111:1985–1991. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114514000178
Bailey AJ (2001) Molecular mechanisms of ageing in connective tissues. Mech Ageing Dev 122:735–755
Balk EM, Raman G, Tatsioni A, Chung M, Lau J, Rosenberg IH (2007) Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation and cognitive function: a systematic review of randomized trials. Arch Intern Med 167:21–30. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.167.1.21
Beard JR, Bloom DE (2015) Towards a comprehensive public health response to population ageing. Lancet 385:658–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61461-6
Begum G, Harvey L, Dixon CE, Sun D (2013) ER stress and effects of DHA as an ER stress inhibitor. Transl Stroke Res 4:635–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-013-0282-1
Bird TD, Stranahan S, Sumi SM, Raskind M (1983) Alzheimer’s disease: choline acetyltransferase activity in brain tissue from clinical and pathological subgroups. Ann Neurol 14:284–293. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410140306
Bottiglieri T, Laundy M, Crellin R, Toone BK, Carney MW, Reynolds EH (2000) Homocysteine, folate, methylation, and monoamine metabolism in depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 69:228–232
Bowling A, Dieppe P (2005) What is successful ageing and who should define it? BMJ 331:1548–1551. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7531.1548
Carney MW, Williams DG, Sheffield BF (1979) Thiamine and pyridoxine lack newly-admitted psychiatric patients. Br J Psychiatry J Ment Sci 135:249–254
Casas JP, Bautista LE, Smeeth L, Sharma P, Hingorani AD (2005) Homocysteine and stroke: evidence on a causal link from mendelian randomisation. Lancet 365:224–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)17742-3
Costantini A, Pala MI, Compagnoni L, Colangeli M (2013) High-dose thiamine as initial treatment for Parkinson’s disease. BMJ Case Rep. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2013-009289
Davison KM, Kaplan BJ (2012) Nutrient intakes are correlated with overall psychiatric functioning in adults with mood disorders. Can J Psychiatry 57:85–92
Dayon L et al (2017) One-carbon metabolism, cognitive impairment and CSF measures of Alzheimer pathology: homocysteine and beyond. Alzheimers Res Ther 9:43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-017-0270-x
Digby JE et al (2012) Anti-inflammatory effects of nicotinic acid in human monocytes are mediated by GPR109A dependent mechanisms. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 32:669–676. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.241836
Du J et al. (2014) The role of nutrients in protecting mitochondrial function and neurotransmitter signaling: implications for the treatment of depression, PTSD, and suicidal behaviors. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 0 https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2013.876960
Eyre H, Baune BT (2012) Neuroplastic changes in depression: a role for the immune system. Psychoneuroendocrinology 37:1397–1416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.03.019
Fava M, Mischoulon D (2009) Folate in depression: efficacy, safety, differences in formulations, and clinical issues. J Clin Psychiatry 70(Suppl 5):12–17. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.8157su1c.03
Foraker AB, Khantwal CM, Swaan PW (2003) Current perspectives on the cellular uptake and trafficking of riboflavin. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 55:1467–1483
Fu AL, Li Q, Dong ZH, Huang SJ, Wang YX, Sun MJ (2004) Alternative therapy of Alzheimer’s disease via supplementation with choline acetyltransferase. Neurosci Lett 368:258–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2004.05.116
Fu L, Doreswamy V, Prakash R (2014) The biochemical pathways of central nervous system neural degeneration in niacin deficiency. Neural Regen Res 9:1509–1513. https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.139475
Gardner TS (1948) The use of Drosophila melanogaster as a screening agent for longevity factors; the effects of biotin, pyridoxine, sodium yeast nucleate, and pantothenic acid on the life span of the fruit fly. J Gerontol 3:9–13
Gareri P, Castagna A, Cotroneo AM, Putignano S, De Sarro G, Bruni AC (2015) The role of citicoline in cognitive impairment: pharmacological characteristics, possible advantages, and doubts for an old drug with new perspectives. Clin Interv Aging 10:1421–1429. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S87886
Gomes AP et al (2013) Declining NAD(+) induces a pseudohypoxic state disrupting nuclear-mitochondrial communication during aging. Cell 155:1624–1638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.037
Herbert V (1988) Vitamin B-12: plant sources, requirements, and assay. Am J Clin Nutr 48:852–858
Holmes MV et al (2011) Effect modification by population dietary folate on the association between MTHFR genotype, homocysteine, and stroke risk: a meta-analysis of genetic studies and randomised trials. Lancet 378:584–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60872-6
Honda Y et al (2011) Lifespan-extending effects of royal jelly and its related substances on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 6:e23527. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0023527
Huo Y et al (2015) Efficacy of folic acid therapy in primary prevention of stroke among adults with hypertension in China: the CSPPT randomized clinical trial. JAMA 313:1325–1335. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.2274
Imai S, Guarente L (2014) NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease. Trends Cell Biol 24:464–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2014.04.002
Inoue S, Koya-Miyata S, Ushio S, Iwaki K, Ikeda M, Kurimoto M (2003) Royal Jelly prolongs the life span of C3H/HeJ mice: correlation with reduced DNA damage. Exp Gerontol 38:965–969
Jansen PA et al (2013) Combination of pantothenamides with vanin inhibitors as a novel antibiotic strategy against gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 57:4794–4800. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.00603-13
Jansirani, Anathanaryanan PH (2004) A comparative study of lens protein glycation in various forms of cataract. Indian J Clin Biochem 19:110–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02872403
Jerneren F, Elshorbagy AK, Oulhaj A, Smith SM, Refsum H, Smith AD (2015) Brain atrophy in cognitively impaired elderly: the importance of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamin status in a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 102:215–221. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.103283
King RH (2001) The role of glycation in the pathogenesis of diabetic polyneuropathy. Mol Pathol 54:400–408
Kiykim E, Kiykim A, Cansever MS, Zeybek CA (2015) Biotinidase deficiency mimicking primary immune deficiencies. BMJ Case Rep. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2014-209275
Lanza IR, Nair KS (2010) Mitochondrial function as a determinant of life span. Pflugers Arch 459:277–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-009-0724-5
Leong DK, Le O, Oliva L, Butterworth RF (1994) Increased densities of binding sites for the “peripheral-type” benzodiazepine receptor ligand [3H]PK11195 in vulnerable regions of the rat brain in thiamine deficiency encephalopathy. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 14:100–105. https://doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.1994.14
Li D et al (2010) Chronic niacin overload may be involved in the increased prevalence of obesity in US children. World J Gastroenterol: WJG 16:2378–2387
Lipszyc PS, Cremaschi GA, Zorrilla-Zubilete M, Bertolino ML, Capani F, Genaro AM, Wald MR (2013) Niacin modulates pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. A potential mechanism involved in its anti-atherosclerotic effect. Open Cardiovasc Med J 7:90–98. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874192401307010090
Liu D, Ke Z, Luo J (2017) Thiamine deficiency and neurodegeneration: the interplay among oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy. Mol Neurobiol 54:5440–5448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-016-0079-9
Loria-Kohen V, Gomez-Candela C, Palma-Milla S, Amador-Sastre B, Hernanz A, Bermejo LM (2013) A pilot study of folic acid supplementation for improving homocysteine levels, cognitive and depressive status in eating disorders. Nutr Hosp 28:807–815. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2013.28.3.6335
Malouf R, Grimley Evans J (2003) The effect of vitamin B6 on cognition. Cochrane Database Syst Rev CD004393 https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004393
Massey V (2000) The chemical and biological versatility of riboflavin. Biochem Soc Trans 28:283–296
Meldrum BS (2000) Glutamate as a neurotransmitter in the brain: review of physiology and pathology. J Nutr 130:1007S–1015S
Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Apostolopoulos V (2016a) The effects of vitamin B in depression. Curr Med Chem 23:4317–4337
Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Tangalakis K, Bosevski M, Apostolopoulos V (2016b) Cognitive decline: a vitamin B perspective. Maturitas 93:108–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.08.001
Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Polenakovic M, Bosevski M, Apostolopoulos V (2017a) Exercise and mental health. Maturitas 106:48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.09.003
Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Prakash M, Apostolopoulos V (2017b) The effects of vitamin B on the immune/cytokine network and their involvement in depression. Maturitas 96:58–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.11.012
Mikkelsen K, Hallam K, Stojanovska L, Apostolopoulos V (2018) Yeast based spreads improve anxiety and stress. J Funct Foods 40:471–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.11.034
Mitchell ES, Conus N, Kaput J (2014) B vitamin polymorphisms and behavior: Evidence of associations with neurodevelopment, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and cognitive decline. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 47C:307–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.08.006
Miyake Y et al (2006) Dietary folate and vitamins B12, B6, and B2 intake and the risk of postpartum depression in Japan: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study. J Affect Disord 96:133–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2006.05.024
Mota SI et al (2015) Oxidative stress involving changes in Nrf2 and ER stress in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Biochim Biophys Acta 1852:1428–1441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2015.03.015
Murakami K, Mizoue T, Sasaki S, Ohta M, Sato M, Matsushita Y, Mishima N (2008) Dietary intake of folate, other B vitamins, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in relation to depressive symptoms in Japanese adults. Nutrition 24:140–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2007.10.013
Nemazannikova N, Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Blatch GL, Apostolopoulos V (2017) Is there a link between vitamin B and multiple sclerosis? Med Chem. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573406413666170906123857
Pan X et al (2016) Measurement of blood thiamine metabolites for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. EBioMedicine 3:155–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.11.039
Pariante CM (2015) Neuroscience, mental health and the immune system: overcoming the brain-mind-body trichotomy Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci:1-5. https://doi.org/10.1017/S204579601500089X
Pavlin M, Repic M, Vianello R, Mavri J (2015) The chemistry of neurodegeneration: kinetic data and their implications. Mol Neurobiol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-015-9284-1
Petridou ET, Kousoulis AA, Michelakos T, Papathoma P, Dessypris N, Papadopoulos FC, Stefanadis C (2016) Folate and B12 serum levels in association with depression in the aged: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Ment Health 20:965–973. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1049115
Pitkin RM (2007) Folate and neural tube defects. Am J Clin Nutr 85:285S–288S
Porter K, Hoey L, Hughes CF, Ward M, McNulty H (2016) Causes, consequences and public health implications of low B-vitamin status in ageing. Nutrients 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8110725
Powers HJ (2003) Riboflavin (vitamin B-2) and health. Am J Clin Nutr 77:1352–1360
Read DH, Harrington DD (1981) Experimentally induced thiamine deficiency in beagle dogs: clinical observations. Am J Vet Res 42:984–991
Richard FE (2014) Pyridoxine deficiency workup. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/124947-workup. Accessed 18 March 2015
Rizzo G et al (2016) Vitamin B12 among vegetarians: status, assessment and supplementation. Nutrients 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8120767
Sadowska-Bartosz I, Bartosz G (2014) Effect of antioxidants supplementation on aging and longevity. Biomed Res Int 2014:404680. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/404680
Saposnik G, Ray JG, Sheridan P, McQueen M, Lonn E, Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation I (2009) Homocysteine-lowering therapy and stroke risk, severity, and disability: additional findings from the HOPE 2 trial. Stroke 40:1365–1372. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.529503
Scheibye-Knudsen M et al (2014) A high-fat diet and NAD(+) activate Sirt1 to rescue premature aging in cockayne syndrome. Cell Metab 20:840–855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2014.10.005
Schmitt A, Falkai P (2015) Classification and neurobiological concepts of mania, bipolar disorder and major depression. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 265:271–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-015-0599-8
Sengul O, Uygur D, Gulec M, Dilbaz B, Simsek EM, Goktolga U (2014) The comparison of folate and vitamin B12 levels between depressive and nondepressive postmenopausal women. Turk J Med Sci 44:611–615
Seppala J et al (2013) Association between vitamin b12 levels and melancholic depressive symptoms: a Finnish population-based study. BMC Psychiatry 13:145. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-145
Serafini GRZ, Amore M (2015) The role of glutamate excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation in depression and suicidal behavior: focus on microglia cells. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2:127
Sharma A, Bist R, Bubber P (2013) Thiamine deficiency induces oxidative stress in brain mitochondria of Mus musculus. J Physiol Biochem 69:539–546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-013-0242-y
Sheraz MA, Kazi SH, Ahmed S, Anwar Z, Ahmad I (2014) Photo, thermal and chemical degradation of riboflavin. Beilstein J Org Chem 10:1999–2012. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.10.208
Shibata M et al (2006) Regulation of intracellular accumulation of mutant Huntingtin by Beclin 1. J Biol Chem 281:14474–14485. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M600364200
Shimizu F, Sano Y, Tominaga O, Maeda T, Abe MA, Kanda T (2013) Advanced glycation end-products disrupt the blood-brain barrier by stimulating the release of transforming growth factor-beta by pericytes and vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 by endothelial cells in vitro. Neurobiol Aging 34:1902–1912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.01.012
Slavich GM, Irwin MR (2014) From stress to inflammation and major depressive disorder: a social signal transduction theory of depression. Psychol Bull 140:774–815. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035302
Smesny S, Baur K, Rudolph N, Nenadic I, Sauer H (2010) Alterations of niacin skin sensitivity in recurrent unipolar depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 124:335–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.12.017
Spry C, Macuamule C, Lin Z, Virga KG, Lee RE, Strauss E, Saliba KJ (2013) Pantothenamides are potent, on-target inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum growth when serum pantetheinase is inactivated. PLoS One 8:e54974. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054974
Syed EU, Wasay M, Awan S (2013) Vitamin B12 supplementation in treating major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Open Neurol J 7:44–48. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874205X01307010044
Tamanna N, Mahmood N (2015) Food processing and Maillard reaction products: effect on human health and nutrition. Int J Food Sci 2015:526762. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/526762
Tucker KL, Qiao N, Scott T, Rosenberg I, Spiro A 3rd (2005) High homocysteine and low B vitamins predict cognitive decline in aging men: the veterans affairs normative aging study. Am J Clin Nutr 82:627–635
Voziyan PA, Hudson BG (2005) Pyridoxamine: the many virtues of a maillard reaction inhibitor. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1043:807–816. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1333.093
Walker JG et al (2012) Oral folic acid and vitamin B-12 supplementation to prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms – the Beyond Ageing Project: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 95:194–203. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.110.007799
Wang HS, Kuo MF (2007) Vitamin B6 related epilepsy during childhood. Chang Gung Med J 30:396–401
Wang X, Xu M, Frank JA, Ke ZJ, Luo J (2017) Thiamine deficiency induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 320:26–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2017.02.009
WHO (2017) Ageing and nutrition: a growing global challenge. http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ageing/en/index1.html
Wickens AP (2001) Ageing and the free radical theory. Respir Physiol 128:379–391
Wong CW (2015) Vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly: is it worth screening? Hong Kong Med J 21:155–164. https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj144383
Wu XY, Lu L (2012) Vitamin B6 deficiency, genome instability and cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev: APJCP 13:5333–5338
Xin XX et al (2016) Supplementation with major royal-jelly proteins increases lifespan, feeding, and fecundity in Drosophila. J Agric Food Chem 64:5803–5812. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b00514
Xiu LL, Lee MS, Wahlqvist ML, Chen RC, Huang YC, Chen KJ, Li D (2012) Low and high homocysteine are associated with mortality independent of B group vitamins but interactive with cognitive status in a free-living elderly cohort. Nutr Res 32:928–939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2012.09.005
Yang Q, Botto LD, Erickson JD, Berry RJ, Sambell C, Johansen H, Friedman JM (2006) Improvement in stroke mortality in Canada and the United States, 1990 to 2002. Circulation 113:1335–1343. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.570846
Zeisel SH (1992) Choline: an important nutrient in brain development, liver function and carcinogenesis. J Am Coll Nutr 11:473–481
Zhang G, Ding H, Chen H, Ye X, Li H, Lin X, Ke Z (2013) Thiamine nutritional status and depressive symptoms are inversely associated among older Chinese adults. J Nutr 143:53–58. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.112.167007
Zou YX, Ruan MH, Luan J, Feng X, Chen S, Chu ZY (2017) Anti-aging effect of riboflavin via endogenous antioxidant in fruit fly Drosophila Melanogaster. J Nutr Health Aging 21:314–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0752-8
Acknowledgements
VA was supported by the Victoria University College of Health and Biomedicine start-up funds, and KM was supported by the Victoria University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mikkelsen, K., Apostolopoulos, V. (2018). B Vitamins and Ageing. In: Harris, J., Korolchuk, V. (eds) Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Ageing: Part I Biomedical Science. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 90. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2835-0_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2835-0_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2834-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2835-0
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)