No Role for Folic Acid or B Vitamins in Lowering Cardiovascular Risk

Another randomized trial fails to show a positive effect of folic acid or B-vitamin supplementation on secondary prevention of CVD events.

Although high blood levels of homocysteine are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, whether lowering homocysteine with folic acid and B vitamins might improve outcomes remains unclear. Therefore, investigators in Norway assessed the effect of treatment with folic acid and vitamins B₁₂ and B₆ on secondary events in patients undergoing angiography for coronary artery disease or aortic stenosis.

The study cohort consisted of 3090 adults (average age, 62; 20% women) randomized in a 2 x 2 factorial design to daily oral treatment with folic acid (0.8 mg) plus vitamins B₁₂ (0.4 mg) and B₆ (40 mg); folic acid plus vitamin B₁₂; vitamin B₆ alone; or placebo. The primary outcome of interest was a composite of all-cause death, nonf…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

No Role for Folic Acid or B Vitamins in Lowering Cardiovascular Risk

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Reviewing Author