Serum Homocysteine Levels Had Important Associations with Activity and Quality of Daily Living in Chinese Centenarians

Background: Population aging is an important problem worldwide, with activity and quality of daily living commonly reduced in elderly people. leading to increased hospitalization and mortality rates, and substantial individual and social burdens.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the associations of serum homocysteine levels with activity and quality of daily living in Chinese centenarians for the first time.

Participants: The China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study was performed in 18 cities and counties of Hainan Province.

Main measures: Home interview, physical examination and blood analysis were performed in 787 centenarians following standard procedures.

Key results: The median age was 102 years, ranging between 100 and 115 years. There were 634 females (80.6%) and 153 males (19.4%) in all. The median level of serum homocysteine was 23.80 (18.80-29.90) umol/L, whereas median values of Barthel Index and EuroQol 5 Dimensions were 85(60-95) and 0.661(0.558-0.766), respectively. The centenarians with serum homocysteine levels ≥23.8μmol/L were more likely to had lower values of Barthel Index and EuroQol 5 Dimensions than those with serum homocysteine levels <23.8μmol/L (P<0.05 for all). In multivariate linear regression analyses, serum homocysteine levels were significantly associated with Barthel Index and EuroQol 5 Dimensions (P<0.05 for all).

Conclusions: Serum homocysteine levels had important associations with activity and quality of daily living in Chinese centenarians. Future research should focus on the value of intervening in serum homocysteine levels by supplying folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 on improving activity and quality of daily living in elderly people.