In this third up date of the Cochrane review , there were no differences in effects of homocysteine-lowering interventions in the form of supplements of vitamins B6 , B9 or B12 given alone or in combination comparing with placebo on myocardial infa rct ion , death from any cause or adverse events .
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease , which includes coronary artery disease , stroke and peripheral vascular disease , is a leading cause of death worldwide .
Homocysteine is an amino acid with biological functions in methionine metabolism .
A postulated risk factor for cardiovascular disease is an elevated circulating total homocysteine level .
The impact of homocysteine-lowering interventions , given to patients in the form of vitamins B6 , B9 or B12 supplements , on cardiovascular events has been investigated .
This is an up date of a review previously published in 2009 , 2013 , and 2015 .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether homocysteine-lowering interventions , provided to patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease are effective in preventing cardiovascular events , as well as reducing all-cause mortality , and to evaluate their safety .
Low-dose B vitamins supplementation ameliorates cardiovascular risk: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in healthy Chinese elderly
Abstract Purpose We investigated whether daily supplementation with low-dose B vitamins in the healthy elderly population improves the Framingham risk score ( FRS ) , a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk . Methods Between 2007 and 2012 , a double-blind r and omized controlled trial was conducted in a rural area of North China . In all , 390 healthy participants aged 60–74 were r and omly allocated to receive daily vitamin C ( 50 mg ; control group ) or vitamin C plus B vitamins ( 400 µg folic acid , 2 mg B6 , and 10 µg B12 ; treatment group ) for 12 months . FRSs were calculated for all 390 subjects . Results Folate and vitamin B12 plasma concentrations in the treatment group increased by 253 and 80 % , respectively , after 6 months , stopped increasing with continued supplementation after 12 months and returned to baseline levels 6 months after supplementation cessation . Compared with the control group , there was no significant effect of B vitamin  supplementation on FRSs after 6 months ( mean difference −0.38 ; 95 % CI −1.06 , 0.31 ; p = 0.279 ) , whereas a significant effect of supplementation was evident after 12 months ( reduced magnitude 7.6 % ; −0.77 ; 95 % CI −1.47 , −0.06 ; p = 0.033 ) . However , this reduction disappeared 6 months after supplementation stopped ( −0.07 ; 95 % CI −0.80 , 0.66 ; p = 0.855 ) . The reduction in FRS 12 months after supplementation was more pronounced in individuals with a folate deficiency ( 10.4 % ; −1.30 ; 95 % CI −2.54 , −0.07 ; p = 0.039 ) than in those without ( 4.1 % ; −0.38 ; 95 % CI −1.12 , 0.36 ; p =  0.313 ) . B vitamins  increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 3.4 % after 6 months ( 0.04 ; 95 % CI −0.02 , 0.10 ; p = 0.155 ) and by 9.2 % after 12 months ( 0.11 ; 95 % CI 0.04 , 0.18 ; p = 0.003 ) . Compared with the control group , this change in magnitude decreased to 3.3 % ( 0.04 ; 95 % CI −0.02 , 0.10 ; p = 0.194 ) 6 months after supplementation cessation . Conclusions Daily supplementation with a low-dose of B vitamins for 12 months reduced FRS , particularly in healthy elderly subjects with a folate deficiency . These reduced effects declined after supplementation cessation , indicating a need for persistent supplementation to maintain the associated benefits
In this third up date of the Cochrane review , there were no differences in effects of homocysteine-lowering interventions in the form of supplements of vitamins B6 , B9 or B12 given alone or in combination comparing with placebo on myocardial infa rct ion , death from any cause or adverse events .
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease , which includes coronary artery disease , stroke and peripheral vascular disease , is a leading cause of death worldwide .
Homocysteine is an amino acid with biological functions in methionine metabolism .
A postulated risk factor for cardiovascular disease is an elevated circulating total homocysteine level .
The impact of homocysteine-lowering interventions , given to patients in the form of vitamins B6 , B9 or B12 supplements , on cardiovascular events has been investigated .
This is an up date of a review previously published in 2009 , 2013 , and 2015 .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether homocysteine-lowering interventions , provided to patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease are effective in preventing cardiovascular events , as well as reducing all-cause mortality , and to evaluate their safety .