Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29255930›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of nutrition2019

Effects of folic acid supplementation on cognitive function and Aβ-related biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

Fei Ma, Qing Li, Xuan Zhou, Jiangang Zhao, Aili Song, Wen Li, Huan Liu, Weili Xu, Guowei Huang

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of nutrition, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
44citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

44 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 90 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Article
  14. Natural Molecules for Brain Health and Resilience.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Fei MaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Qing LiDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Xuan ZhouDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Jiangang ZhaoCommunity Health Service Center, Sanhuailu Street, Binhai New District, Tianjin, 300456, China.
Aili SongCommunity Health Service Center, Sanhuailu Street, Binhai New District, Tianjin, 300456, China.
Wen LiDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Huan LiuDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Weili XuDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Guowei HuangDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China. tjgwhuang@126.com.
Tianjin Medical University · CN

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81130053Tianjin 13th five plan and TMU talent project 2016KJ0304Tianjin Science and Technology Support Program 15ZCZDSY01040
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeObservational studies have frequently reported that low blood folate concentrations are associated with poor cognitive performance. Our previous studies have shown the potential beneficial effect on the metabolite levels of methionine cycle and peripheral blood inflammatory cytokines from 6- and 12-month folic acid supplementation on cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study aims to continue exploring the effect of 24-month folic acid supplementation on cognitive function and pathological mechanism in MCI.

methods180 individuals with MCI were identified and randomly divided into intervention (folic acid 400 µg/day, n = 90) and convention (n = 90) groups. Cognitive function (WAIS-RC) and blood Aβ-related biomarkers were measured at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equation. This trial has been registered with Trial Number: ChiCTR-TRC-13003227.

resultsDuring the follow-up, scores of full scale IQ, verbal IQ, and subdomains of Information and Digit Span were significantly higher in the intervention group than those in the convention group (P < 0.05). In the intervention group, blood homocysteine, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), Aβ-42, and the expression of APP-mRNA were decreased (P < 0.05), while S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), SAM/SAH ratio, and the expression of DNA methyltransferase mRNA were increased (P < 0.05).

conclusionFolic acid supplementation appears to improve cognitive function and reduce blood levels of Aβ-related biomarkers in MCI. Larger-scale double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trials of longer duration are needed.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsAgedAmyloidogenic ProteinsBiomarkersCluster AnalysisCognitionCognitive DysfunctionDNA MethylationFemaleFolic AcidFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleAmyloidogenic ProteinsBiomarkersFolic AcidCognitive functionDNA methyltransferaseFolateMild cognitive impairmentRandomized controlled trialβ-Amyloid

Identifiers

PMID29255930
OpenAlexW2781371180

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.