January 2, 2000 – Two scientific studies published a few months apart have just shown that folic acid (vitamin B9) has a marked effect on blood homocysteine levels, thus reducing the risk of heart disease for people with high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol (too high blood cholesterol).
It was already known that people with high blood homocysteine levels are at risk for cardiovascular events or heart disease and that a combination of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 lowers homocysteine levels. However, the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, are a better indicator of the risk of heart disease than the levels of cholesterol.
In the first study, in 491 people at risk for heart disease, a diet that included twice the recommended daily amount (RDA) of folic acid and the RDA of vitamin B6 and B12, all participants saw their homocysteine levels. brought back to normal.
In a second study of 20 patients with a family history of high blood cholesterol, taking a daily dose of 5 mg of folic acid for four weeks showed a similar effect.
By lowering homocysteine levels, folic acid increases the ability of blood vessels to dilate, thus reducing the risk of high pressure and blood clots to which people with high cholesterol are particularly at risk.
The main dietary sources of folic acid are brewer’s yeast, liver, oysters, raw green vegetables, eggs, cheeses, nuts, almonds and bean sprouts. A varied diet of raw vegetables normally ensures a sufficient dose.
HealthPassport.net
Chait A, Malinow MR, Nevin DN, Morris CD, Eastgard RL, Kris-Etherton P, Pi-Sunyer FX, Oparil S, Resnick LM, Stern JS, Haynes RB, Hatton DC, Metz JA, Clark S, McMahon M, Holcomb S, Reusser ME, Snyder GW, McCarron DA. Increased dietary micronutrients decrease serum homocysteine concentrations in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Nov; 70 (5): 881-7.
Verhaar MC, Wever RM, Kastelein JJ, van Loon D, Milstien S, Koomans HA, Rabelink TJ. Effects of oral folic acid supplementation on endothelial function in familial hypercholesterolemia. A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Circulation 1999 Jul 27; 100 (4): 335-8
