The Effect of Folic Acid on Atherosclerosis, Cognitive Performance and Hearing

Inclusion Criteria: * 50-70 years * Men and post-menopausal women * Women with a surgically removed uterus were required to be \>=55 years Exclusion Criteria: * Plasma total homocysteine \<13 or \>26 umol/L * Serum vitamin B12 \<200 pmol/L * Self-reported current use of drugs which affect folate metabolism * Self-reported current use of drugs believed to influence intima-media thickening, i.e., lipid-lowering drugs, hormone replacement therapy * Self-reported medical diagnosis of renal, intestinal, thyroid disease * Self-reported medical diagnosis of current cancer * Self-reported current use of supplements containing B vitamins * Self-reported inability or unwillingness to fast for 12 hours * \<80% compliance using placebo pills during a 6-week run-in period * Not giving written informed consent * Participation in other research studies