Quick Fix for Physical Function in Elderly?

Yesterday we looked at a study suggesting that MetaNx, a medical food comprised of L-methylfolate, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, and methylcobalamin, led to a decrease hospitalization rate in those suffering from diabetic neuropathy.  Coincidentally, in a cross-sectional study to be published in print next month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the authors concluded that homocysteine & folate (but not vitamin B12) were linked to physical & functional decline.

Specifically the authors evaluated 796 participants (avg 65yo) in the Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study.  After taking into account just about everything, high homocysteine & low folate were linked to decrease in physical and functional ability, as measured by Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment and self-reports of instrumental activities of daily living.

However, we need to assess the link between homocysteine, folate & physical/functional decline since all the conclusions drawn suggest a decline but no proof as to which caused the other, eg did an increase homocysteine & folate decrease cause the decline in function or did the decline in physical function cause the increase in homocysteine & decrease in folate?  As an observational study, this can only suggest hypotheses for us to research but is clearly no proof of cause & effect.  Something to mull over . . .

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