Taking vitamin B12 supplements may not reduce memory loss risk

A new study has revealed that taking vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements may not reduce the risk of memory and thinking problems after all.

The study involved people with high blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

Study author Rosalie Dhonukshe-Rutten, PhD, of Wageningen University in Wageningen said that since homocysteine levels can be lowered with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements, the hope has been that taking these vitamins could also reduce the risk of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers said that while the homocysteine levels decreased by more in the group taking the B vitamins than in the group taking the placebo, unfortunately there was no difference between the two groups in the scores on the thinking and memory tests.

The study was published in the online issue of Neurology.