Folic acid is a synthetic compound of folate, a B vitamin found in green
leafy vegetables, which has been shown to cut the risk of birth defects if women
take it during pregnancy.
British researchers said it also plays a vital role in lowering the odds of
suffering a stroke and heart disease -- the biggest killers in the western world
-- by slashing levels of a substance in blood called homocysteine.
"Homocysteine is a cause of heart attack and stroke but we can reduce the
risk of these diseases by taking more folic acid (supplements)," Dr David Ward,
a cardiologist at Southampton General Hospital in southern England, told
Reuters.
"People at risk should consider doing that until government agencies come
around to fortifying our diet," he added.
Folic acid helps to prevent heart disease, stroke and blood clots by
assisting enzymes in the body to break down homocysteine and get rid of it.
Ward and his colleagues, who reported their findings in The British Medical
Journal, estimate that a minimum increase of 0.8 milligrams of folic acid each
day can cut heart disease risk by 16 percent, blood clots by 25 percent and
stroke by 24 percent.
"We now have sufficient evidence that this can be done," said Ward.
FOODS OR SUPPLEMENTS
The United States started fortifying flour with folic acid several years ago
after its role was established in reducing birth defects. Ward believes the
program will have a similar impact on heart disease and strokes.
"There is no doubt that fortification programs and public health actions to
get them under way will be the most effective way of increasing folate levels in
the population and decreasing homocysteine levels," he said.
The United States has taken the lead in food fortification programs but other
countries, including Britain and Australia are considering it.
"This research is another strong piece of evidence that should swing the
argument in favor of fortification," Ward added.
But until there are national programs, the most effective way to increase
folic acid intake is to take supplements.
"That should certainly be encouraged among people who either have existing
heart disease or who have had a stroke already because they will be at most risk
of a further event," he said.
People over 55 years old, who are more likely to have a heart disease or
stroke, could also benefit from folic acid.
Ward and his colleagues, who analyzed the results of dozens of earlier
studies into homocysteine and heart disease, said the exact mechanisms of how it
contributes to the disorders is still unknown but it appears to injure the inner
lining of arteries and increases the stickiness of blood.
"It is likely that homocysteine acts in more than just one way in damaging
heart muscles and leads to blood clots forming in the arteries of the heart,
brain and the legs and lungs."
