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Subject: B Vitamins help celiacs
A medical journal article published today in Alimentary Pharmacology &
Therapeutics caught my eye:
Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet
C. HALLERT, M. SVENSSON, J. THOLSTRUP, B. HULTBERG
Abstract
Published Online: 20 Jan 2009
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.03945.x
ABSTRACT
Background Patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet show vitamin deficiency and reduced subjective health status.
Aim To study the biochemical and clinical effects of B vitamin supplementation in adults with longstanding coeliac disease.
Methods In a double blind placebo controlled multicentre trial, 65 coeliac patients (61% women) aged 45-64 years on a strict gluten-free diet for several years were randomized to a daily dose of 0.8 mg folic acid,0.5 mg cyanocobalamin and 3 mg pyridoxine or placebo for 6 months. The outcome measures were psychological general well-being (PGWB) and the plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level, marker of B vitamin status.
Results Fifty-seven patients (88%) completed the trial. The tHcy level was baseline median 11.7 μmol/L (7.4–23.0), significantly higher than in matched population controls [10.2 μmol/L (6.7–22.6) (P < 0.01)]. Following vitamin supplementation, tHcy dropped a median of 34% (P < 0.001), accompanied by significant improvement in well-being (P < 0.01), notably Anxiety (P < 0.05) and Depressed Mood (P < 0.05) for patients with poor well-being.
Conclusions Adults with longstanding coeliac disease taking extra B
vitamins for 6 months showed normalized tHcy and significant improvement in general well-being, suggesting that B vitamins should be considered in people advised to follow a gluten-free diet.
I read the abstract at this link:
http://www3.
(you may need to register but there is no fee)
A personal note: I definitely noticed an improvement personally when I
started taking B vitamins (memory, concentration) several years ago after going GF. However, don't take too much!! I became Vitamin B6 toxic on only 50mg/day - resulting in peripheral neuropathy and loss of sensation in my feet.
Happy weekend,
Becky
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