Folic Acid May Offer Better Heart Health Protection Than Statin Drugs
When scientists want a definitive answer about whether or not a therapeutic agent like a drug or nutrient really influences health, they conduct a meta-analysis — a study that analyzes lots of other studies. A recent meta-analysis of 45 years of research shows a strong link between folate (a type of B vitamin) and the prevention of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems.
Chinese researchers from Nanjing Medical University looked at 15 studies on the link between folate (known as folic acid in supplemental form) and cardiovascular disease. Eight of the studies looked at dietary intake of folate, and seven looked at levels of folate in the blood. Every study produced the same result: the more folate in your diet and the more folate in your blood, the lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Overall, those with the most folate in their diet or blood had a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those with the least.
To put that finding in perspective, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs reduce the risk of a first heart attack or stroke (called primary prevention) by less than 2% — so folate may be 15-25 times more powerful at preventing heart disease than statins! And a lot cheaper and safer!
How much folate should you aim for? The study linked every 200 mcg increase in dietary intake to a 12% decrease in risk of cardiovascular disease — 200 mcg to 12%, 400 mcg to 24%, and so on. But that doesn’t mean the sky’s the limit.
Some recent research indicated a very weak link between a daily intake of over 800 mcg of folate and breast cancer. Since it’s better to err on the side of safety, I recommend a daily intake of 400 mcg.
Reference:
“Folate and risk of coronary heart disease: A meta-analysis of prospective studies,” Wang ZM, Zhou B, Nie ZL, Gao W, Wang YS, Zhao H, Zhu J, Yan JJ, Yang ZJ, Wang LS. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print].
Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, also known as “Dr. T,” is an integrative physician and one of the country’s foremost experts on fatigue, sleep and pain management. The treatment program he developed for combating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia and related conditions has helped hundreds of thousands of sufferers reclaim their health and vitality.
Dr. Teitelbaum is the Medical Director of the National Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and author of the best-selling books, From Fatigued to Fantastic!, Beat Sugar Addiction Now! and Pain Free 1-2-3. He has also authored several landmark scientific studies. Dr. Teitelbaum has firsthand experience with CFS and Fibromyalgia — he battled the condition when he was in medical school and had to drop out for a year to recover. Since then, he has dedicated his career to developing effective strategies to treat these conditions and educating the millions of people who need help.
Visit his web site to learn more.
Article updated on: November 12th, 2011
[...] simple ultrasound improves the diagnosis of new disease research center shows that doing a scan sim…imple ultrasound of the carotid artery significantly improves the prediction of heart disease, giving doctors a better idea of who is at high risk of a heart attack. Part 1 How to Make Homemade Fresh Tomato Sauce – Tips on Lycopene for Cancer Prevention [...]