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Reduce Heart Disease
in Women With B
Vitamins
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| A 14 year study shows that two B
Vitamins may improve the health of the female heart. |
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| According to researchers at
Harvard University a high intake of Folic Acid and Vitamin B6 can reduce
the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by up to 45 percent. |
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Eric B. Rimm, Sc.D., and
colleagues assessed the diet and health of more than 80,000 nurses. They
found that 95 percent of the women who had the highest intakes of Folic
Acid (an average of 696 mcg per day) and B6 (4.6 mg per day) had a
significantly reduced incidence of heart disease.
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| It should be noted that the
current RDAs - 180 mcg/day of folate and 1.6 mg/day of B6 for
nonpregnant women are both well below the beneficial intakes cited in
the study. |
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| The study noted fortified foods
may increase Folic Acid intakes by only 100 mcg per day and that even
after fortification, 75 percent of women will still have inadequate
intakes. |
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| Researchers also noted that food
and supplements are equally good sources of folate and B6, but
supplements may be the only way women can get helpful amounts of each. |
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| Source - JAMA, 279: 5,
Feb. 4, 1998 |
