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Diet High in B Vitamins Lowers Heart Risks,
Demonstrated in Japanese Study
Eating more foods containing the B-vitamins folate and B-6 lowers
the risk of death from stroke and heart disease for women and may
reduce the risk of heart failure in men, according to Japanese
research reported in the medical journal Stroke: Journal of the
American Heart Association.
“Japanese people need more dietary intake of folate and vitamin B-6,
which may lead to the prevention of heart disease,” reported the
researchers of public health at Osaka University.
The findings on the value of B vitamins were consistent with studies
in Europe and North America, although the dietary consumption of
vitamin B-6 is generally lower in Japan than in the United States.
Researchers analyzed data from 23,119 men and 35,611 women
(ages 40-79) who completed food frequency questionnaires as part
of the large Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study. During a median
14 years of follow-up, 986 died from stroke, 424 from heart disease
and 2,087 from all diseases related to the cardiovascular system.
Investigators divided participants into five groups based on their intake
of folate, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12.
Comparing those with the diets lowest and highest for each nutrient,
they found that higher consumption of folate and vitamin B-6 was
associated with significantly fewer deaths from heart failure in men,
and significantly fewer deaths from stroke, heart disease and total
cardiovascular diseases in women. Vitamin B-12 intake was not
associated with reduced mortality risk
The protective effects of folate and vitamin B-6 didn’t change when
researchers adjusted for the presence of cardiovascular risk factors,
nor when they eliminated supplement users from the analysis.
Folate and vitamin B-6 may help guard against cardiovascular disease
by lowering homocysteine levels, the investigators said. Homocysteine
is an amino acid in the blood that’s affected by diet and heredity. Folic
acid and other B vitamins help break down homocysteine in the body.
A direct causal link hasn’t been established, but evidence has shown
that too much homocysteine may damage the inner lining of arteries
and promote the formation of blood clots.
Sources of folate include vegetables and fruits, whole or enriched
grains, fortified cereals, beans and legumes. Sources of vitamin B-6
include vegetables, fish, liver, meats, whole grains and fortified cereals.
Source:
Stroke: American Heart Association.
Journal Reference:
Dietary Folate and Vitamin B6 and B12 Intake in Relation to Mortality
From Cardiovascular Diseases. Japan Collaborative Cohort Study.
Stroke, 2010;
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