Previous
Folic Acid Prevents High Blood Pressure in Women-www.livingiseasy.co.uk
Added: (Sat Mar 05 2005)
Folic Acid Prevents High Blood Pressure in Women
Women who get lots of folic acid from both diet and supplements have
less chance of developing high blood pressure than women who get very
little, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (2005;293:320-9) that re-analyzed data from two previous
studies.
Hypertension (HTN) is defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm
Hg. HTN affects approximately 65 million people in the United States,
and the prevalence is increasing as the population ages. Blood
pressure is influenced by the openness and elasticity of the blood
vessels; HTN indicates loss of elasticity, narrowing of the vessels,
or both. It is frequently caused by plaque formation along the inner
vessel walls (atherosclerosis). Because the heart pumps against the
resistance (pressure) of the arteries, HTN increases the work the
heart must do to keep blood flowing to all parts of the body. Chronic
HTN can therefore cause thickening of the heart muscle and eventual
heart failure. HTN also increases the risk of stroke and kidney
failure. Preventing HTN is critical to reducing the incidence of heart
disease, the leading cause of death in the US. Public health
recommendations are based on evidence that a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables and low in saturated fats, combined with regular moderate
exercise, can protect against HTN.
Folic acid, one of the B vitamins, occurs naturally in many plant
foods (such as beans and green leafy vegetables) and is commonly found
in multivitamins and B-complex supplements. Due to its role in
preventing some birth defects, a number of foods are now fortified
with folic acid, such as cold cereals and other grain products. Along
with vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid lowers blood levels of
homocysteine, an amino acid that has been found to be a heart disease
risk factor. Several small studies have suggested that folic acid
supplements might improve the health of the vessel walls and lower
blood pressure.
Data from two previous studies of health and disease patterns in women
in the US, known as the Nurses' Health Study I and II, were used in
the current study to examine the effect of dietary and supplemental
folic acid intake on HTN.
More than 238,000 women participated in the two studies. One study
included women between 25 and 42 years old and the other included
women between 30 and 55 years old. Women in both studies answered
questionnaires about health and dietary habits upon enrollment. For
both studies, follow-up health questionnaires were filled out every
two years for eight years, and a follow-up diet questionnaire was
answered after four years.
The study involving younger women found that those who consumed the
most total folic acid (more than 1,000 mcg per day) from both diet and
supplements had a 46% lower risk of HTN than those who consumed the
least total folic acid (less than 200 mcg per day). In the study with
older women, consuming the most folic acid afforded an 18% risk
reduction compared with consuming the least. In women whose dietary
folic acid was less than 200 mcg per day, a combined dietary and
supplemental folic acid intake of at least 800 mcg per day reduced HTN
risk, relative to a combined intake of less than 200 mcg per day, by
45% in the study with younger women and 39% in the study with older
women. In women who did not take supplements, getting the currently
recommended 400 mcg per day from food was not protective against HTN
in either study.
This analysis of the results from two studies provides evidence that
folic acid can significantly reduce HTN risk in women. It further
suggests that supplementing with folic acid is an effective way to
increase intake to a level that protects against HTN. Future studies
should further examine the relationship between folic acid intake and
HTN risk, as well as the possible role for folic acid supplements in
reducing blood pressure in people with HTN.
Cheques made payable to Oxyvita Limited and sent to the address below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address: Oxyvita Limited,
117 Finchley Road,
Swiss Cottage,
London NW3 6HY,
England
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales Hot Line: 020 7483 1991
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales and Administration:
Telephone: 020 8920 0444
Fax: 020 7722 8820
Email: sales@livingiseasy.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade Enquiries:
Telephone: 020 8368 7261
Fax: 020 8362 8209
Email: trade@livingiseasy.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Order Tracking:
Telephone: 020 7586 6985
Email: track@livingiseasy.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-commerce Services and Investment Opportunities:
Telephone: 020 7586 6985
Email: e-commerce@livingiseasy.co.uk