A diet high in vitamin B reduces cardiovascular risk
Actuary on cardiovascular disease by decreasing homocysteine levels, possibly causing damage to the lining of the arteries and the precursor of thrombus formation
The consumption of greater amounts of foods containing folate and vitamin B-6 reduces the risk of mortality from stroke and heart disease in women and may reduce the risk of heart failure in men, according to a study by the University of Osaka in Japan magazine is published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Explains Hiroyasu Iso, director of the study, the Japanese need a higher dietary intake of folate and vitamin B-6, which could lead to the prevention of heart disease, since dietary intake of vitamin B-6 tends to be generally lower in Japan than in the United States.
The findings on the value of vitamin B are consistent with studies in Europe and North America
The researchers analyzed data from 23 119 35 611 men and women between 40 and 79 who completed food frequency questionnaires as part of a large Japanese study. During an average follow-up 14 years 986 people died of stroke, heart disease and 424 of 2087 because of diseases related to cardiovascular system.
The researchers divided the participants into five groups based on their consumption of folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12. Compared to those with diets lower and higher each nutrient, found that higher intake of folate and vitamin B-6 was associated witha reduction in the number of deaths from heart failure in men and stroke, heart disease and cardiovascular women. The consumption of vitamin B-12 was not associated with a lower risk of mortality.
The protective effects of folate and vitamin B-6 did not change when the researchers took into account the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors.
According to the researchers, folate and vitamin B-6 may help fight cardiovascular disease by lowering homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is affected by diet and genetics. Folic acid and other B vitamins help to break down homocysteine in the body.
Unable to establish a causal link but there is evidence that too much homocysteine may damage the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots.
The sources of folate include fruits and vegetables, whole grain or enriched, fortified cereals, beans and legumes. Sources of vitamin B-6 include vegetables, fish, liver, meat, whole grains and fortified cereals.