• T van Vliet, R G J M Jacobs, E de Deckere, H van den Berg, A de Bree, and N M J van der Put.
• TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, The Netherlands.
• Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun 1;61(6):769-78.

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of folic acid, vitamin B(6) and B(12) fortified spreads on the blood concentrations of these vitamins and homocysteine.Design And SettingA 6-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel trial carried out in a clinical research center.SubjectsOne hundred and fifty healthy volunteers (50% males).InterventionsFor 6 weeks, the subjects consumed the test spreads (20 g/day): containing per 20 g (1) 200 microg folic acid, 2 microg vitamin B(12) and 1 mg vitamin B(6), or (2) 400 microg folic acid, 2 microg vitamin B(12) and 1 mg vitamin B(6) or (3) no B-vitamins (control spread).ResultsThe B-vitamin status increased on using the test spreads, with the largest effect on the serum folate concentration: 48% in men and 58% in women on spread 1 and 92 and 146%, respectively, on spread 2 (P-values all <0.05). The plasma homocysteine decreased in the groups treated with the fortified spreads as compared to the control group. Average decreases were for males: 0.7+/-1.5 micromol/l (6.8%) on spread 1 and 1.7+/-1.7 micromol/l (17.6%) on spread 2 and for females: 1.4+/-1.2 micromol/l (14.2%) and 2.4+/-2.0 micromol/l (23.3%), respectively (P-values all <0.05).ConclusionsConsumption of a spread fortified with folic acid, vitamin B(6) and vitamin B(12) for 6 weeks significantly increases the blood concentrations of these vitamins and significantly decreases the plasma concentration of homocysteine. Fortified staple foods like spreads can contribute to the lowering of homocysteine concentrations.

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