[see also Cardiovascular
Plaque, Heart Disease, Stroke,
Higher Folate Intake Decreased
Risk For High Blood Pressure 1
Women who get large amounts of the vitamin
folate from food and supplements have a sharply lower risk of developing
high blood pressure, according to researchers from Brigham & Women's
Hospital and Harvard Medical School in a study of 150,000 women.
Women age 27-44 who consumed at least 1,000 micrograms of folate
per day were 46% less likely to develop hypertension than women
who consumed less than 200 micrograms. Women 43-70 saw a less pronounced
yet significant 18% reduced risk of high blood pressure after consuming
1,000 micrograms of folate each day.
Elevated Blood Pressure Addressed With Folate 2
Healthy homocysteine levels can be
maintained with a combination of Folate,
B12 and B6
. The body-ready (conenzymated) form of these
vitamins may help overcome obstacles to metabolizing homocysteine.
Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2003 Dec;43(12):1299-306
Elevated homocysteine diminishes the ability
of nitric oxide to dilate blood vessels, stimulates the proliferation
of vascular smooth muscle cells, alters the elastic properties of blood
vessel walls, and increases oxidative stress. Subsequently, it is believed
homocysteine contributes to elevated blood pressure. Correcting high
homocysteine levels with folate, vitamins B12 and B6 could be a useful
therapy for addressing hypertension say the authors.
Disturbed Folate Metabolism May Play Role
In Early States Of Hypertension 3
Publisher's abstract: American
Journal of Hypertension. 2002 Oct;15(10 Pt 1):857-64
Essential hypertension in adolescents is
associated with lower folate and higher homocysteine levels, and with
signs of insulin resistance. Data suggests that hypertension in young
individuals may be a part of early manifestation of insulin resistance
syndrome, and that disturbed folate and homocysteine metabolism may
play a role in the early stages of hypertension.
- Additional studies are underway to further
demonstrate whether folate intake or lowering homocysteine
levels have a consistent direct, causal role in lowering
blood pressure or a consistent ability to reduce risk for
- Intake of more than 1000 mcg/day of folate
can hide symptoms of B12 deficiency. A blood test can measure
serum B12, or see if methylmalonic acid is elevated as a
proxy for functional B12 shortage. Oral supplementation
with 1000 mcg/day of B12 corrects or protects against most
cases of deficiency (except those due to metabolic or serious
malabsorption issues). If untreated, B12 deficiency can
result in nerve damage.
- This article is not intended to replace the
advice or attention of your doctor or other health care
professional. Do not stop taking medications or start taking
any nutrition supplement without first speaking to a qualified
health care professional.
1John P. Forman, MD; Eric B. Rimm, ScD; Meir J. Stampfer, MD, DrPH; Gary C. Curhan, MD, ScD. Folate Intake and the Risk of Incident Hypertension Among US Women. JAMA. 2005;293:320-329.
2 Rodrigo R; Passalacqua W; Araya J; Orellana M; Rivera G. Homocysteine and essential hypertension. J Clin Pharmacol 2003 Dec;43(12):1299-306.
3 Kahleova R; Palyzova D; Zvara K; Zvarova J; Hrach K; Novakova I; Hyanek J; Bendlova B; Kozich V. Essential hypertension in adolescents: association with insulin resistance and with metabolism of homocysteine and vitamins. Am J Hypertens 2002 Oct;15(10 Pt 1):857-64.