Food Fortification With Vitamin B12 In Addition To Folic Acid Could Reduce Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease (p 227)January 17, 2002Authors of a research letter in this week's issue of THE LANCET conclude that vitamin B12 in addition to folic acid should be used to fortify food to lower concentrations of the blood protein homocysteine, thereby potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Mandatory fortification of grain foods with folic acid has been in place in the USA since 1998, and evidence suggests that this measure has resulted in a 19% reduction in occurrence of neural-tube defects in babies. In the UK, mandatory folic-acid fortification is now a possibility after recommendations by the Government's Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA). Fortification of food with folic acid to prevent neural-tube defects also lowers plasma homocysteine, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Joe McPartlin from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and colleagues in Ulster University at Coleraine, Northern Ireland, investigated the effect of both folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation on homocysteine concentrations. 30 men and 23 women received sequential supplementation with increasing doses of folic acid. After supplementation, the usual dependency of homocysteine on folic acid diminished, and vitamin B12 became the main determinant of plasma-homocysteine concentration. Joe McPartlin comments: "This finding suggests that a fortification policy based on folic acid and vitamin B12, rather than folic acid alone, is likely to be much more effective in lowering homocysteine concentrations, with potential benefits for reduction of the risk of cardiovascular disease." Lancet |
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| Related Folic Acid Current Events and Folic Acid News Articles Mortality Rates Reduced among Children Whose Mothers Received Iron-folic Acid Supplements Offspring whose mothers had been supplemented with iron-folic acid during pregnancy had dramatically reduced mortality through age 7, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. News brief: Effects of aspirin and folic acid on inflammation markers for colorectal adenomas Unexpectedly, inflammation markers do not appear to be involved with the chemopreventative effect of aspirin on colorectal adenomas, according to a brief communication published online October 12 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Essential nutrient found in eggs may help lower risk of neural tube defects Research published online in the journal Epidemiology found that higher levels of total blood choline are associated with a 2.5-fold reduction in risk for neural tube birth defects (NTDs). Anti-epilepsy drug risk on cognitive function for unborn children Interim results of a study being conducted by scientists at the University of Liverpool suggest that children aged three years and younger, who are born to women taking the anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate whilst pregnant, are likely to have an IQ of six to nine points lower than average. Irish-led research team rule out link between specific antibodies and spina bifida New research, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that a woman's risk of having a child with a neural tube defect (NTD), such as Spina Bifida, is not linked to folic acid related auto-antibodies. Brain malformations significantly associated with preterm birth, Wake Forest research shows New research out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine provides for the first time a solid scientific answer for the long-standing question of whether there is an association between preterm birth and brain malformations. UCF researcher's nanoparticles could someday lead to end of chemotherapy Nanoparticles specially engineered by University of Central Florida Assistant Professor J. Manuel Perez and his colleagues could someday target and destroy tumors, sparing patients from toxic, whole-body chemotherapies. Some neural tube defects in mice linked to enzyme deficiency Women of childbearing age can reduce the risk of having a child born with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida by eating enough folate or folic acid. However, folate prevents only about 70 percent of these defects. Folic acid to prevent congenital heart defects The Canadian policy of fortifying grain products with folic acid has already proved to be effective in preventing neural tube defects. Taking folic acid for a year before pregnancy may reduce risk of preterm birth Women who take folic acid supplements for at least one year before they become pregnant may cut their risk of having a premature baby by half, according to research published this week in the online journal, PLoS Medicine. More Folic Acid Current Events and Folic Acid News Articles |
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