Rationale and design of the B-PROOF study, a randomized controlled trial on the effect of supplemental intake of vitamin B12and folic acid on fracture incidence

BMC Geriatrics

Study Protocol

Paul Lips¹  Natasja M van Schoor²  Karin MA Swart²  Johannes Brug²  Janneke P van Wijngaarden³  Elske M Brouwer-Brolsma³  Lisette CPGM de Groot³  Rosalie AM Dhonukshe-Rutten³  Joyce BJ van Meurs⁴  M Carola Zillikens⁴  André G Uitterlinden⁴  Suzanne C van Dijk⁵  Anke W Enneman⁵  Nathalie van der Velde⁵ 

[1] Department of Endocrinology, VU University medical center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007, Amsterdam, MB, The Netherlands;Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University medical center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, Amsterdam, BT, The Netherlands;Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700, Wageningen, EV, The Netherlands;Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000, Rotterdam, CA, The Netherlands;Department of Internal Medicine-Section Geriatric Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000, Rotterdam, CA, The Netherlands;

关键词: Bone Mineral Density;    Folic Acid;    Homocysteine;    Osteoporotic Fracture;    Pulse Wave Velocity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2318-11-80

 received in 2011-09-16, accepted in 2011-12-02,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundOsteoporosis is a major health problem, and the economic burden is expected to rise due to an increase in life expectancy throughout the world. Current observational evidence suggests that an elevated homocysteine concentration and poor vitamin B12 and folate status are associated with an increased fracture risk. As vitamin B12 and folate intake and status play a large role in homocysteine metabolism, it is hypothesized that supplementation with these B-vitamins will reduce fracture incidence in elderly people with an elevated homocysteine concentration.Methods/DesignThe B-PROOF (B-Vitamins for the PRevention Of Osteoporotic Fractures) study is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The intervention comprises a period of two years, and includes 2919 subjects, aged 65 years and older, independently living or institutionalized, with an elevated homocysteine concentration (≥ 12 μmol/L). One group receives daily a tablet with 500 μg vitamin B12 and 400 μg folic acid and the other group receives a placebo tablet. In both tablets 15 μg (600 IU) vitamin D is included. The primary outcome of the study is osteoporotic fractures. Measurements are performed at baseline and after two years and cover bone health i.e. bone mineral density and bone turnover markers, physical performance and physical activity including falls, nutritional intake and status, cognitive function, depression, genetics and quality of life. This large multi-center project is carried out by a consortium from the Erasmus MC (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), VUmc (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) and Wageningen University, (Wageningen, the Netherlands), the latter acting as coordinator.DiscussionTo our best knowledge, the B-PROOF study is the first intervention study in which the effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on osteoporotic fractures is studied in a general elderly population. We expect the first longitudinal results of the B-PROOF intervention in the second semester of 2013. The results of this intervention will provide evidence on the efficacy of vitamin B12 and folate supplementation in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures.Trial RegistrationThe B-PROOF study is registered with the Netherlands Trial (NTR NTR1333) and with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00696514).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© van Wijngaarden et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011