Effects of Multivitamin Supplements on Cognitive Function, Serum Homocysteine Level, and Depression of Korean Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment in Care Facilities

To examine effects of multivitamin supplements on cognitive function, serum homocysteine level, and depression of Korean older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in care facilities.A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was employed.Forty-eight adults 65 years of age and older with MCI (experimental, n = 24; control, n = 24) who were living in care facilities in Gyeong-gi-do, Korea, were recruited. Multivitamin supplements as experimental treatment consisted of vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid. Multivitamin supplements were taken at a dosage of one pill every day for 12 weeks through the oral route. Measures were Mini Mental State Examination-Korean, serum homocysteine level, and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).There were significant effects of multivitamin supplements on cognitive function (F = 3.624, p = .021), serum homocysteine level (F = 6.974, p = .001), and depression (F = 10.849, p = .001).Multivitamin supplements increased cognitive function, and decreased serum homocysteine level and depression of Korean older adults with MCI in care facilities.Multivitamin supplements can be utilized for improving cognitive ability and for decreasing depression of Korean older adults with MCI in care facilities.