Folic Acid Supplements Lower Risk Of Stroke

Based on the results of a study of meta-analysis, it is known that folic acid supplements can lower the risk of stroke by 18%-25%. However, its usefulness to other cardiovascular conditions clearly is not yet known.

Reduction of the risk of stroke is emerging from a meta analysis of eight randomly observe the trial of folic acid supplementation, with or without other B vitamins. The research was conducted by scientists from Northwestern University, and the results reported in the journal The Lancet issue 2 June 2007.

In a multilevel analysis of trial that incorporate 16,841 men and women, the researchers divided the group into:

-Sub groups that receive folic acid supplements more than 3 years

-Sub group that has the levels of homocysteine levels decreased by 20% or more

-Sub groups living in the area without folic acid fortification

The study determined that patients with various diseases often experience a lack of folic acid, other B vitamins (like vitamin B6 and vitamin B12), as well as omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA).

The eight trial included patients with initial conditions, i.e. one trial with a history of strokes and seven more with coronary heart disease and end stage renal disease or Dyspepsia of the esophagus. Decreased risk of stroke as a whole is as much as 18%. In addition, the risk of stroke 25% lower in the trial of 7 there is no history of stroke.

Although it has been shown that folic acid supplements may decrease the risk of stroke, the debate continues whether folic acid can improve the results of the assessment of cardiovascular end. Some studies find results opposite of epidemiologic studies, while supporting the proposal that the risk factors and power relationships are different between the stroke and cardiovascular disease. The researchers speculated, though the reason for the difference is not understood completely, they are referring to the fact that a stroke has more to do with pathology in small blood vessels, while cardiovascular disease tend to involve major blood vessels.

A Clinical Trial is expected to be done in the following areas without the fortifications and among individuals with no history of stroke to test the effectiveness of and relationship between causal folic acid supplementation in stroke.