A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of thiamin plus folic acid in the treatment of cognitive impairment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.
Ren FailApr 30, 2026 (epub)
Kewei Xie, Yan Jiang, Tingfang Chen et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of thiamin and folic acid on cognitive impairment in 215 maintenance hemodialysis patients. After 96 weeks, the treatment group showed a significant improvement in ADAS-Cog scores (from 21.25 to 15.07, p < 0.001), while the placebo group did not demonstrate significant changes.
Key findings
- Treatment group ADAS-Cog scores improved from 21.25 ± 9.2 to 15.07 ± 8.38, p < 0.001.
- Blood thiamin levels increased from 5.59 ± 0.95 to 18.21 ± 3.91 ng/mL.
- Adverse events occurred in 31.8% of the treatment group compared to 62.0% in the placebo group, p = 0.0017.
- Mortality rates were similar between groups at 12.1% vs. 12.0%, p = 0.978.
Why it matters
Cognitive impairment is common in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, and effective interventions can enhance quality of life. This study suggests that thiamin and folic acid supplementation may offer a beneficial approach to improve cognitive function in this population.