More Data Showing Folic Acid as Heart-Healthy 28854

More Data Showing Folic Acid as Heart-Healthy

COLERAINE, Northern Ireland--Researchers from the University ofUlster reported in the September issue of the European Journal of ClinicalNutrition (56, 9:850-6, 2002) (www.nature.com/ejcn)that not all B vitamins have the same heart-health effects. In particular,riboflavin (vitamin B2) did not have as much of an effect as folic acid (vitaminB9) on homocysteine, high levels of which are thought to increase the risk forheart disease by damaging the lining of blood vessels and enhancing bloodclotting.

In a community-based study using 101 healthy elderly people, for the first 12weeks volunteers received either 1.6 mg/d of riboflavin or a placebo. In thesecond part of the study, subjects were given 400 mcg/d of folic acid foranother six weeks followed by a combination of the two B vitamins for anadditional 12 weeks. A 16-week washout period was implementedpost-supplementation.

Researchers found that although riboflavin significantly improved riboflavinstatus, homocysteine levels were not affected. However, folic acid was found tolower homocysteine.

"As the folic acid story unfolds, it is becoming clear that itsimportance goes beyond its major role for mothers-to-be and that, in fact, it isnot just a woman's nutrient," said Helene McNulty, Ph.D., a co-author ofthe study. "New and emerging roles for this important vitamin include itsprobable role in protecting against heart disease and strokes by preventing theaccumulation of homocysteine."