Folic acid could reduce heart disease and stroke | nursing times
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Folic acid should be used as a cheap way of reducing heart disease and stroke, according to UK research. Folic acid should be used as a cheap way of reducing heart disease and stroke,
according to UK research. Researchers analysed different studies to establish whether raised levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, is one of the causes of cardiovascular disease. Folic acid
lowers the levels of homocysteine in the blood. The results showed that by combining different studies it was possible to establish a protective effect from a lower homocysteine level.
Since folic acid reduces homocysteine concentrations, the researchersconcludedthat increasing folic acid consumption will reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. A daily supplement of
folic acid is currently recommended for women before conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of spina bifida in the baby. BMJ (2006) 333: 1114-7.