B Vitamins for Heart
Health
Folic acid combined with vitamins B12 and B6 are all
important nutrients that help control blood levels of
homocysteine.
Given the latest information, supplementing
with 500 mcg of folic acid daily is not only important in
expectant mothers but for all people with a family history of
heart disease.
Homocysteine is a chemical that forms in the body during
the breakdown of methionine, an essential amino acid that
builds proteins.
One of the jobs of the B vitamins folate, B6, and B12 is to
remove homocysteine from the blood. If the B vitamins are not
present, homocysteine accumulates. An impressive array of
evidence suggests that too much homocysteine can damage your
arteries and lead to heart attack and stroke.
Folic acid
Folic acid (folate) is one of the B-complex vitamins. Also
known as vitamin B-9, folate, folacin, and pteroryglutamic
acid, folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that must be
obtained through your diet.
Canadian researchers reported that men and women with low
blood (serum) levels of folate have a 69 percent increase in
risk of fatal coronary heart disease (relative risk=1.69, 95
percent confidence interval 1.10-2.61).
Dr. Paul Hopkins, associate professor of internal medicine
at the Salt Lake City university, said "people with high
levels of homocysteine can reduce their risk of heart disease
through dietary changes."
These people should eat foods
rich in folic acid. These foods include, spinach, asparagus,
beans and peas as well as fresh orange juice.
Hopkins
said. Supplements of folic acid that would affect levels of
homocysteine, cost just a few cents a day."
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps the body
make proteins, which are then used to make body cells. It also
helps convert tryptophan (an amino acid) into niacin and
serotonin (a brain chemical). Vitamin B-6 also helps produce
other body chemicals such as insulin, hemoglobin and
antibodies to fight infection.
Studies have shown a correlation between heart disease and
the antioxidant vitamin B-6. Researchers writing in the
Journal of the American Medical Association found women with
high intakes of vitamin B-6 and folic acid had a 45 percent
lower risk of developing heart disease.
Articles and Studies about Vitamin B6
and its Role is Preventing Heat
Disease
