Markers of B-vitamin deficiency and frailty in older women.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the association between markers of vitamins B12, B6 and folate deficiency and the geriatric syndrome of frailty.

Design

Cross-sectional study of baseline measures from the combined Women's Health and Aging Studies.

Setting

Baltimore, Maryland.

Participants

Seven hundred three community-dwelling women, aged 70-79.

Measurements

Frailty was defined by five-component screening criteria that include weight, grip strength, endurance, physical activity and walking speed measurements and modeled as binary and 3-level polytomous outcomes. Independent variables serum vitamin B6, vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid, total homocysteine, cystathionine and folate were modeled continuously and as abnormal versus normal.

Results

Serum biomarker

SUBMITTER: Matteini AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2739594 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature