Folic acid lowers CHD riskAssociation of maternal folic acid supplementation and offspring MTRR gene polymorphism with congenital heart disease: a hospital-based case-control study in Han population.
Relevant to genetic health studies
We investigated the link between maternal folic acid supplementation and the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children, considering genetic factors too. In a hospital-based case-control study with 595 children diagnosed with CHD and 605 healthy children, we found that mothers who took folic acid reduced the risk of CHD in their children.
The data indicated a noteworthy interaction between maternal supplementation and certain genetic variants in the children, particularly one MTRR gene polymorphism. However, it's important to note that further research with larger samples is necessary to strengthen these findings.
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Folate levels affect stroke riskAssociation Between Serum Folate Concentrations and 10-Year Stroke Risk in a Prospective Community Cohort: Mediation and Interaction Analyses.
Study highlights important gene interactions
We examined the connection between folic acid levels and stroke risk in a study involving nearly 5,000 individuals from a Chinese community. We discovered that participants with higher folate levels had a significantly lower risk of experiencing strokes.
Specifically, those in the highest folate group had a 32% lower risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest levels. We also found that homocysteine levels played a significant role in this relationship. Interestingly, the genetic variation of the MTHFR gene influenced how folate affected stroke risk, revealing a more complex interaction.
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Folate impacts heart health progressionSerum folate levels, but not vitamin B12, are associated with slower progression in carotid intima-media thickness in a population exposed to mandatory folic acid fortification.
Study shows significance of folate
We focused on whether folate and vitamin B12 levels influence the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), an early sign of atherosclerosis. Our research covered over 4,200 participants in São Paulo over eight years.
While vitamin B12 showed no significant connection, participants with the highest folate levels experienced a slower increase in cIMT compared to those with the lowest levels. This highlights folate’s potential positive impact on cardiovascular health, particularly in populations with adequate serum folate.
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Folic acid improves heart healthMTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension treated with enalapril and folic acid: implications for prognosis.
High relevance for heart disease
We explored the role of the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension using folic acid along with enalapril treatment. Over 540 patients were divided into groups based on folic acid treatment and monitored for a year.
We observed that those receiving folic acid had a lower recurrence of cardiovascular events compared to others. Additionally, the lipid levels showed improvement in the folic acid group. Therefore, folic acid may enhance overall treatment outcomes and patient compliance in managing blood pressure.
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We explored the relationship between folic acid levels and the outcomes of ischemic stroke in a study involving over 3,500 patients. Our findings indicated that higher folate levels were linked to a 29% reduced risk of death and serious disability after three months.
Conversely, high homocysteine levels correlated with a 52% increased risk of these adverse outcomes. Additionally, we found that part of folate's protective effect was mediated through homocysteine levels. This suggests that folic acid may play a crucial role in improving ischemic stroke prognosis.
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