Most pregnant women (or women trying to get pregnant) nowadays know to take folic acid to help prevent neural tube birth defects in their unborn children. But how about taking folic acid to help protect grandma and grandpa against heart disease? Does it work?
You betcha!
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a part of the B-vitamin family. It plays a role in regulating the body’s production of homocysteine. As you’ll recall from previous Guides to Good Health articles, homocysteine is a marker some specialists use to assess heart health. High levels of this amino acid put you at greater risk for heart attack.
But folic acid seems to break down homocysteine, never letting it build up and cause heart damage. In fact, in one recent (albeit small) study by Italian scientists, post-menopausal women were given 15 mg of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (the natural form of folate in the body) for just three weeks.
Not only did these women experience decreases in homocysteine, they also lowered both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The women also improved their bodies’ response to sugar. Not bad results for a totally non-toxic vitamin taken for just 21 days…especially when you consider the alternatives!
If you’re concerned about your heart health -- and who over 50 isn’t -- think about adding folic acid to your regimen. Go for 800 micrograms (mcg) per day. Take it along with 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12.
|
