New research published in the British Medical Journal has strengthened the view of many cardiologists that vitamin B supplements could be used to reduce heart attack and stroke risk, reports the Daily Mail.
The research, carried out by Imperial College School of Medicine, shows how B vitamins (including B12 and folate) modify the amino acid homocysteine, turning it into compounds such as cysteine and taurine, which are needed for heart health. In this latest study supplementation with 0.8mg of folic acid a day was shown to result in a '3 micromolar' reduction in homocysteine - sufficient to reduce risk of stroke and heart attack.
Without enough vitamin B, homocysteine is now known to present a serious problem-causing LDL (bad cholesterol) to be oxidised making it more dangerous to blood vessels. This is why many experts believe that regular homocysteine level checks are as important as cholesterol tests for monitoring heart health.
The Daily Mail article cited the case of Christine Ellis who went to the Brain Bio Clinic in London after she had a stroke. Tests at the clinic showed her homocysteine level was 22 micromolar (12 is regarded as high and 6 ideal). Ellis was treated with B6, B12 and folic acid, plus a multivitamin daily. Two months later her homocysteine score had dropped to 7.6, whilst her blood pressure had been restored to a healthy 120/75.
