Folate Fights Heart Disease
The B vitamin, folic acid, has recently received a lot of attention for lowering blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid made in the body which damages the lining of blood vessels. Most of the data for this has been generated from looking back at people with heart disease or from experimental studies in laboratories. A prospective study in which participants were all healthy to start and were followed for 12-16 years was reported in the November 27, 2000 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
A sample of 689 adults in the U.S. from 30 to 75 years of age had serum folate levels measured in the late 1970s and were followed up. There were 122 deaths, and 49 were due to heart disease. Those with the highest serum folate levels were half as likely to have died from heart disease. However, total mortality was not predicted by folate levels.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: This was a very small study for this type of research. In addition, a single folate level may not be indicative of long-term status. Nevertheless, it adds to the evidence that consumption of folate is kind to your heart. Read More.
The B vitamin, folic acid, has recently received a lot of attention for lowering blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid made in the body which damages the lining of blood vessels. Most of the data for this has been generated from looking back at people with heart disease or from experimental studies in laboratories. A prospective study in which participants were all healthy to start and were followed for 12-16 years was reported in the November 27, 2000 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
A sample of 689 adults in the U.S. from 30 to 75 years of age had serum folate levels measured in the late 1970s and were followed up. There were 122 deaths, and 49 were due to heart disease. Those with the highest serum folate levels were half as likely to have died from heart disease. However, total mortality was not predicted by folate levels.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: This was a very small study for this type of research. In addition, a single folate level may not be indicative of long-term status. Nevertheless, it adds to the evidence that consumption of folate is kind to your heart. Read More.