Analysis of the cause of locomotor dysfunction caused by vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15767
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Tottori University
• Principal Investigator: BITO Tomohiro 鳥取大学, 農学部, 助教 (20776421)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ビタミンB12 / Caenorhabditis elegans / 酸化ストレス / サルコペニア / ロコモティブシンドローム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To clarify the cause of locomotor dysfunction caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, the effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on muscle in Caenorhabditis elegans was analyzed. In vitamin B12 deficient nematodes, we found aging-like changes in actin and myosin fibers that consist of muscle fibers. It was presumed that the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which promoted the decomposition of muscle tissue, was activated by the oxidative stress induced vitamin B12 deficiency. In addition, it was clarified that the locomotor dysfunction of vitamin B12-deficient C. elegans is partially related to the decrease of the quantity and quality in the surface collagen of nematodes.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、高齢者で多発するビタミンB12欠乏症と加齢性筋委縮症（サルコペニア）の関連性が垣間見れることより、サルコペニアの新しい予防・診断・治療法の開発に向け、本成果の社会学的意義は極めて大きい。特にこれまでに報告がないビタミンB12欠乏による筋肉の分解系促進は加齢・老化の視点を取り入れ、解析を進めるべき課題であると考えられる。また、ヒト疾病のモデル生物を用いて酸化ストレスがコラーゲン分子間の変異を誘発する仕組みを解明した点についての学術的意義は高い。