B-Vitamins Help Promote Healthy Arteries and
Heart
by Jeremy Maddock
A 2002 study reported, funded
by the Swiss National Science Foundation reported that a
six-month regiment of taking folic acid,
vitamin
b12, and vitamin b6 can be instrumental in the prevention of
recurring blocked arteries in coronary angioplasty
patients.
The findings, which were published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association are an extension of a clinical
trial that examined the effects of combining vitamins on the
treatment of heart disease. The treatment apparently works by
reducing levels of homocysteine, and amino acid which has long
been associated with heart attacks.
The original study involved 205 patients who were given either
a vitamin combination of vitamin b6, vitamin b12, and folic
acid or a placebo for six months. Over that time period, the
patients who took the combination of vitamins showed a 48%
reduction in the development of restenosis, or re-narrowing of
the vessel, compared with patients who received the
placebo.
The new study added 348 new patients, and extended the
follow-up observation period from six months to one year. The
head researcher, Dr. Guido Schnyder, says that this time
extension is important, since six months to one year is the
time frame in which restenosis typically recurs. Out of all the
patients monitored, the need for additional bypass operations
was reduced by 38% over the entire year. This shows that the
vitamin actually prevents the development of restenosis, rather
than just preventing it.
Dr. Robert Bonow, the chief of cardiology at Chicago's
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and president of the American
Heart Association said that the results of the study are very
encouraging, offering more evidence that B vitamins are very
important in maintaining healthy blood vessels.
About the Author
About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the
webmaster of Immune
Wellness, your source for high quality information about
Vitamin
B12 and other health products.
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