Folic Acid And Other Supplements For A Healthy Heart

Folic acid and other B vitamins help break down homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood. A high level of homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

For this reason, some scientists speculated that folic acid supplements may lower homocysteine levels, which, in turn, may reduce the risk of heart disease. But the new research suggests that lowering homocysteine this way has no effect on preventing heart attacks. On the contrary, it may even trigger a slight rise in heart attack risk.

Also, cumulative evidence suggests that dietary Folic acid may reduce the risk of stroke. Observed stroke reduction is speculated due to the reduction in pulse pressure produced by folate supplementation of 5 mg per day, since hypertension is a key risk factor for stroke The reviews indicate only that in some individuals the risk of stroke appears to be reduced, but a definite recommendation regarding supplementation beyond the current recommended daily allowance has not been established for stroke prevention.

Two independent studies were conducted and the researchers concluded that the combined daily administration of 2.5 mg [milligrams] of folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B6, and 1 mg of vitamin B12 for five years had no beneficial effects on major cardiovascular events in a high-risk population with cardiovascular disease.

However, a consultant of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, said the findings may not apply to relatively healthy Americans, since the two study populations involved sicker individuals with a history of heart attack, heart disease, diabetes and other problems.

However, the American Heart Association (AHA) does not recommend use of folic acid supplements by the general public to reduce the risk of heart disease.

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Folic Acid And Other Supplements For A Healthy Heart