No heart help.High doses of three B vitamins B vitamins This family of vitamins consists of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin, folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12). didn't cut the risk of heart attacks, strokes, or angioplasty in women at high risk for heart disease. Roughly 5,400 participants in the Women's Antioxidant antioxidant, substance that prevents or slows the breakdown of another substance by oxygen. Synthetic and natural antioxidants are used to slow the deterioration of gasoline and rubber, and such antioxidants as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene and Folic Acid folic acid: see coenzyme; vitamin. folic acid or folate Organic compound essential to animal growth and health and needed by bacteria as a growth factor. Cardiovascular Study (WAFACS) were given either a daily placebo or folic acid (2,500 micrograms), vitamin B-6 (50 milligrams), and vitamin B-12 (1,000 micrograms) for roughly seven years. The vitamins lowered levels of homocysteine Homocysteine Definition Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in blood plasma. High levels of homocysteine in the blood are believed to increase the chance of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis. (an amino acid linked to heart disease), but, contrary to expectations, that didn't protect the women's hearts. Earlier, the researchers reported that antioxidants--vitamins C and E and betacarotene--had no impact on heart attacks or strokes either. What to do: Although this study offers no reason to take high doses of the three B vitamins, it's worth taking a multivitamin mul·ti·vi·ta·min adj. Containing many vitamins. n. A preparation containing many vitamins. multivitamin that contains the Daily Value for each. In particular, women who could become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day to reduce the risk of neural tube birth defects like spina bifida. www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier= 3043436. |
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