AHA Recommendation
The American Heart Association has not yet called hyperhomocysteinemia (high homocysteine level in the blood) a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We don't recommend widespread use of folic acid and B vitamin supplements to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. We advise a healthy, balanced diet that's rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. For folic acid, the recommended daily value is 400 micrograms (mcg). Citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetables and grain products are good sources. Since January 1998, wheat flour has been fortified with folic acid to add an estimated 100 micrograms per day to the average diet. Supplements should only be used when the diet doesn't provide enough.
What is homocysteine, and how is it related to cardiovascular risk?
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. Too much of it is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease (fatty deposits in peripheral arteries).
Evidence suggests that homocysteine may promote atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in blood vessels) by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots. However, a causal link hasn't been established.
How do folic acid and other B vitamins affect homocysteine levels?
Folic acid and other B vitamins help break down homocysteine in the body. Homocysteine levels in the blood are strongly influenced by diet and genetic factors. Dietary folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12 have the greatest effects. Several studies found that higher blood levels of B vitamins are related, at least in part, to lower concentrations of homocysteine. Other evidence shows that low blood levels of folic acid are linked with a higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease and stroke.
So far, no controlled treatment study has shown that folic acid supplements reduce the risk of atherosclerosis or that taking these vitamins affects the development or recurrence of cardiovascular disease. Researchers are trying to find out how much folic acid, B-6 and/or B-12 are needed to lower homocysteine levels. Screening for homocysteine levels in the blood may be useful in patients with a personal or family history of cardiovascular disease but who don't have the well-established risk factors (smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes).
Although evidence for the benefit of lowering homocysteine levels is lacking, patients at high risk should be strongly advised to be sure to get enough folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12 in their diet. They should eat fruits and green, leafy vegetables daily.
This is just one possible risk factor. A physician taking any type of nutritional approach to reducing risk should consider a person's overall risk factor profile and total diet.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4677What frustrates me is I make a real effort to eat like this article suggests and I really believe that it is more beneficial to get the nutrients you need from your food not supplements. I take folic acid. Yet I have high BP (controlled w/meds), high cholesterol (although my good is high and bad is low), high triglecerides and the homocysteine is evevated in my blood work. My doctor says that having RA and high cholesterol makes the plaque stick in your arteries worse then if you don't have RA. No one has put me on cholesterol medicine but mom takes it and although it lowered her cholesterol her triglecerides remain high. She had several heart attacks when she was around 60 but has been great since she had a quadruple bypass and is now pushing 80. Heart disease runs rampant on her side of the family. Her dad died from it in his 50's.Hi lynn thanks for the info.. brains a little fuzzy haveto reread
Has you doctor suggested taking niacin for your high triglecerides?ok thanks lynn i have high bp ..high cholesterol.. low vitb12 and low folic acid
not a good combination..
cholesterol was high 2yrs before being treated lipitor now
bp being treated rimipril
i suspect vit b12 was low for years on injections now
i was on folic acid whith mtx .. been off it only 3mths so i would not
have expected it to below on 5mg daily folic.now..
wannabe my doc says my body is unable to absorb the vitamins
from the food .. he never explained why. but this is why i need the supplements
Boney
Lynn- I have never been advised to try niacin.