Change of plasma levels of homocysteine,vitamin B_(12) and folic acid and the curative effect of B vitamins in patients with Parkinson disease

Objective To investigate the change of plasma levels of homocysteine( Hcy),vitamin B12 and folic acid and the curative effect of B vitamins in patients with Parkinson disease( PD). Methods Plasma levels of Hcy,vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured in 72 PD patients and 36 healthy controls. All the PD patients were treated with oral vitamin B1,vitamin B6 and Methylcobalamin for 6 months,and then the plasma Hcy level was measured again. And the unified PD rating scale( UPDRS) and Hoehn-Yahr( H-Y) stages were evaluated before and after treatment. Results The plasma Hcy level in PD group was significantly higher than that in control group,while the plasma levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid in PD group were significantly lower than that in control group( P 0. 05-0. 01). The plasma Hcy level in PD group after 6 months of treatmemnt was significantly lower than that before treatment( P 0. 01). But the differences of UPDRS scores,H-Y stages between before and after treatment were no statiscal significant. Conclusions The plasma Hcy level of PD patients are increased,while the plasma levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid are decreased. B vitamins can significantly reduce plasma Hcy level,but can not improve the patient's UPDRS score and H-Y stage.