Folic acid ‘can help prevent heart disease’

Sufficient scientific evidence exists to encourage people at risk of heart disease to increase their folic acid intakes, a London cardiologist believes.

David Wald, a senior lecturer at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, conducted an analysis of separate studies analysing the unproven link between homocysteine, an amino acid, and heart disease.

He found that together the studies showed that where lower levels of homocysteine were present, the risk of heart disease was substantially reduced. As folic acid has been proven to lower homocysteine levels, it follows that folic acid can be good for an individual’s health.

“The conclusion that homocysteine is a cause of cardiovascular disease explains the observations from all the different types of study, even if the results from one type of study are, on their own, insufficient to reach that conclusion,” Dr Wald writes in the British Medical Journal.

He added: “We therefore take the view that the evidence is now sufficient to justify action on lowering homocysteine concentrations, although the position should be reviewed as evidence from ongoing clinical trials emerges.”

Folic acid helps new cells develop and so is especially important during periods of growth, including infancy and pregnancy.