Posted by ed_uk on September 28, 2005, at 15:58:53
In reply to Re: AT MY WITS END -- Cholesterol Homocysteine » vitaqueen, posted by Declan on September 26, 2005, at 14:48:20
Vitamin B and folic acid do not reduce risk of MI and stroke
A combination of high-dose vitamin B6 and folic acid may increase the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in MI survivors, according to the Norwegian Vitamin Trial (NORVIT) reported this week at the European Society of Cardiology annual congress. The findings effectively end the hope that taking a folic-acid/B-vitamin combination to lower homocysteine levels might prevent cardiovascular events.
NORVIT randomised 3,749 post-MI patients, aged 30 to 84, to four treatment options: a combination of folic acid and vitamin B6; folic acid; vitamin B6; or placebo. Doses were 0.8mg daily for folic acid and 40mg daily for vitamin B6. (In addition, 0.4mg of vitamin B12 was given with the folic acid dose.)
Results showed that the combination of vitamin B6 and folic acid, as well as folic acid alone, reduced homocysteine levels by 28 per cent. However, the supplements failed to reduce cardiovascular risk. After 3.5 years of follow-up, the risk of stroke and MI was 18 per cent in the placebo group, with a similar risk in those given folic acid alone and in those given vitamin B6 alone. The risk was higher in the combination group, with 23 per cent of patients suffering a fatal or non-fatal stroke or MI, representing a statistically significant absolute increase of 5 per cent compared with the other treatment groups (P=0.029).
Results also showed a trend toward an increased incidence in cancer among patients taking high-dose folic acid.
poster:ed_uk
thread:559795
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050924/msgs/560721.html