Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, gauged the effectiveness of folic acid and vitamin B12 by combining the results of recent clinical trials with a national analysis of homocysteine levels among US men and women.

Previous studies had shown that people with elevated homocysteine levels have a higher risk of stroke, heart attack and death from heart disease than those with normal levels.

The clinical trials found that the consumption of folic acid supplements could lower homocysteine levels by 25 per cent, and the addition of vitamin B12 supplements could lower levels by a further 7 per cent.

Principal investigator Dr Jeffrey Tice said folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements showed strong potential as a treatment for heart disease.

"The evidence for the beneficial effects of vitamins B12 and folic acid is much stronger than for garlic, vitamin E and other dietary supplements promoted for heart disease prevention," Dr Tice said.

The UCSF scientists noted that homocysteine levels in the US population had fallen since the Food and Drug Administration decided in 1998 that all enriched grain products such as flour and pasta should contain folic acid.

They estimated that heart disease rates would decrease by 13 per cent in men and 8 per cent in women over the next 10 years if Americans aged 35 to 84 continued to have a daily dose of folic-enriched grains.

There would be 310,000 fewer heart disease-related deaths over a 10-year period if people with elevated homocysteine levels took a daily folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement in addition to eating folic-enriched grains, they said.

The researchers said daily folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements would be a cost-effective way for men older than 45 and women older than 55 to look after their health and prevent heart disease.

Senior study author Dr Lee Goldman said, "For most people, especially those with heart disease, taking a folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement is projected not only to be safe and save lives, but also to save money because it prevents heart disease and the costs associated with expensive medical treatments and procedures."

From Health-news.co.uk