A METHOD FOR TREATING OR PREVENTING A FUNCTIONAL VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY IN AN INDIVIDUAL AND MEDICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR USE IN SAID METHOD

摘要

A method and medical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of afunctional Vitamin B12 deficiency in an individual that is brought about as aconsequence of oxidative stress on biochemical pathways. The functionalVitamin B12 deficiency may eventually present as dementia, otherneuropsychiatric abnormality and/or vascular disease. The method involves theadministration of a medical composition that supplies a cobalt-sulphur bond inthe upper .beta.-ligand of an intracellular cobalamin molecule therebyfacilitating intracellular processing of cobalamin. The cobalt-sulphur bondmay be provided directly by administration of a thiolatocobalamin, such asglutathionyl-cobalamin or indirectly by the co-administration of Vitamin B12(or a derivative thereof) with a sulphur-containing molecule, such asglutathione or a precursor thereof.