A recent Japanese study (1) has found that eating more foods which contain the B-vitamins B6 and folate may reduce the risk of death from stroke and heart disease in women and may reduce the risk of heart failure in men.
There has been a lot of research interest in the links between B vitamins and risk of cardiovascular disease (stroke and heart disease) over the last decade. The rationale behind this is that there is evidence to suggest that elevated homocysteine levels are a risk factor for heart disease. As mentioned in previous posts, homocysteine is produced when the amino acid (the building blocks of protein) methionine is broken down in the body. Normal levels of homocysteine are important to help build and maintain body tissues, however elevated concentrations in the blood can be harmful and have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and other disorders. At normal levels homocystein can be converted in the body into a harmless substance called cystanthionine. The conversion of homocysteine into this harmless substance depends upon various B vitamins (B6, B12 and folic acid). Having good levels of these B vitamins appears to be a very good way of preventing high homocysteine levels and low levels of B vitamins have been associated with raised homocysteine levels. The evidence, however is controversial and not yet solid.
In this study(1) over 23,000 men and 35,000 women, age 40 to 79 years, completed a specialised food frequency questionnaire. During an average of 14-years follow-up, there were 986 deaths from stroke, 424 from coronary heart disease, and 2087 from cardiovascular disease. The researchers analysed the results and found that higher dietary folate and vitamin B6 intakes were associated with a reduced risk of death from heart failure for men and with a reduced risk of death from stroke, coronary heart disease, and total cardiovascular disease for women. In this particular study no association was found between vitamin B12 intake and mortality risk.
The findings on the value of B vitamins were consistent with studies in Europe and North America. The study only shows association, a direct causal link hasn’t been established, but evidence has shown that too much homocysteine may damage the inner lining of arteries and can promote the formation of blood clots (2).
Vitamin B6 is found in foods like potatoes, bananas, beans and chickpeas, avocados, fish and poultry. Vitamin B12 is found mainly in meat, fish and poultry. Eggs and cheese also contain B12 as does brewer’s yeast. Many vegetarians and vegans have very low intakes of this vital nutrient and may wish to consider a multi-B vitamin supplement. Folic acid is found in beans, green vegetables and wholegrains. Supplements should never be seen as an alternative to a healthy diet and it is wise to check with you doctor before starting any new supplement regiment. If you are thinking about taking a vitamin B supplement I would always suggest a broad spectrum supplement that supplies adequate, but not megadose, levels of all of the B vitamins (not single nutrient supplements), these vitamins work best together as a team
(1)Renzhe Cui et al. 2010. Japan Collaborative Cohort Study Group. Dietary Folate and Vitamin B6 and B12 Intake in Relation to Mortality From Cardiovascular Diseases. Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. Stroke, 2010; DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.578906
(2)Press release American Heart Association (2010, April 15). Diet high in B vitamins lowers heart risks in Japanese study. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/04/100415161933.htm
Written by Ani Kowal
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