Folic acid aids hypertension treatmentMTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension treated with enalapril and folic acid: implications for prognosis.
Some folic acid effects noted
We explored how folic acid treatment affects patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease (CHD). In our comprehensive study, we looked at 540 CHD patients who were treated in various groups: those receiving folic acid, those not receiving it, and a control group that received standard treatment without folic acid.
We found that the levels of certain fat proteins—like triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol—were lower in patients taking folic acid compared to those who weren’t. Additionally, the recurrence of cardiovascular events was significantly reduced in patients receiving folic acid, suggesting that it plays an important role in improving patient outcomes.
Interestingly, our findings indicate that those with the MTHFR C677T gene mutation may benefit particularly from folic acid supplementation with respect to their blood pressure levels and overall clinical prognosis. This shows the potential of folic acid as a valuable addition to hypertension treatment plans.
Overall, our study underscores the importance of considering genetics when managing hypertension and highlights how folic acid can enhance treatment effectiveness and patient care.
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We investigated the relationship between folate deficiency and the risk of developing hypertension using data from a large UK Biobank study. This research included over 219,000 participants who were initially free of hypertension and allowed us to track who developed this condition over about 13 years.
Our analysis uncovered that individuals with folate deficiency had a significantly higher risk of hypertension, with a hazard ratio of 1.42. This means that they were 42% more likely to develop hypertension compared to those with adequate folate levels.
Moreover, we utilized advanced genetic approaches to examine these associations more closely. Both one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses supported the idea that folate deficiency is not just correlated with hypertension but might actually play a causal role in increasing hypertension risk. Higher serum folate levels appeared to have a protective effect on blood pressure.
However, it’s important to note that while we found an association with folate deficiency and hypertension, this study did not specifically evaluate the effects of folate treatment itself on lowering blood pressure or preventing hypertension. Thus, while we have strong evidence linking folate deficiency to higher hypertension risk, the direct impact of folate supplementation remains to be explored further.
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Folate and vitamin B12 reduce homocysteineAssociation of MTHFR C677T, MTHFRA1298C, and MTRRA66G Gene Polymorphisms with Hyperhomocysteinemia and Its Modulation by the Combined Effect of Vitamin B12 and Folate in Chinese Population with Hypertension.
Combined nutrient effects observed
We investigated how genetic variations might influence both homocysteine levels and hypertension in a group of 1,304 Chinese adults. This study focused on the connections between common genetic polymorphisms and the impact of essential nutrients, particularly folate and vitamin B12.
Our findings indicated that having adequate amounts of folate and vitamin B12 in the diet significantly decreased serum homocysteine levels. Furthermore, these nutrients appeared to lessen the effects of certain genetic variations on homocysteine levels.
While the study did not isolate the specific effects of folate on hypertension alone, it highlighted that a combined approach using both folate and vitamin B12 can help manage cardiovascular risks linked with high homocysteine levels. Therefore, nutritional interventions could be vital in addressing hypertension in this population.
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Folic acid effects on hypertensionThe impact of folic acid/VB12 deficiency on essential hypertension in children and adolescents: from a nested case-control and a cohort study.
Direct link to hypertension effects
We explored how low levels of folic acid (FA) and Vitamin B12 (VB12) relate to high blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents. Conducting both nested case-control and cohort studies, we focused on primary school participants. In our research, we found that children with elevated BP exhibited lower levels of FA and VB12 compared to those with normal BP.
Interestingly, overweight or obese children with high BP had even lower levels of FA than their counterparts with healthy BP. We also noticed a correlation between FA and healthy lipid profiles, suggesting that adequate FA could help in regulating blood pressure. After adjusting for VB12 levels and homocysteine, FA alone showed a significant relationship with elevated BP.
In the cohort study, we observed that participants with high FA levels consistently had lower systolic and diastolic BP levels compared to those with low FA levels. Our findings indicate that maintaining adequate levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 during childhood is crucial, not only through diet but also possibly via supplementation, to help prevent hypertension in the future.
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We explored the long-term associations between metal mixtures present during pregnancy and the development of hypertension in mid-life women, particularly focusing on the role of vitamin B12. Our findings come from a cohort of women enrolled in Project Viva, where we measured essential metals like copper, manganese, and vitamin B12 in red blood cells during pregnancy.
One interesting outcome showed that higher levels of vitamin B12 were linked to lower blood pressure. Specifically, a doubling of vitamin B12 levels corresponded with a reduction of about 3.64 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 2.52 mm Hg in diastolic pressure. This suggests that having adequate vitamin B12 during pregnancy might help mitigate the risk of developing hypertension later in life.
However, while our results were promising in terms of vitamin B12’s protective effect against high blood pressure, the study also indicated that there were no significant interactions between metal levels and other dietary nutrients. Hence, while we solidly observed that optimizing vitamin B12 could be beneficial, the relationship isn't solely dependent on it in conjunction with other factors.
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