Niacin-vitamin B3 helps stroke damage

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Vitamin B 'can rewire stroke patients' brain', study finds

Vitamin B could help improve the health of stroke patients, a study has

found.

 

 

 

 

 

By _Andrew Hough_ (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/andrew-hough/)

Published: 7:30AM GMT 25 Feb 2010

 

 

American researchers found that vitamin B3, or niacin restored a brain's

neurological function after a stroke. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

 

 

American researchers have found it can “rewire†the brain by improving

blood vessels in patients.

Doctors at the Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit, found that vitamin B3, or

niacin - a common water-soluble vitamin - restored a brain’s neurological

function after a stroke.

 

 

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Scientists said the findings from the study of rats, which will lead to a

similar trial in humans, could result in new low cost treatment for stroke

patients.

" If this proves to also work well in our human trials, we'll then have the

benefit of a low-cost, easily-tolerable treatment for one of the most

neurologically devastating conditions, " said Dr Michael Chopp, scientific

director of the Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute, who led the study.

" Niacin essentially re-wires the brain which has very exciting potential

for use in humans.

" The results of this study may also open doors in other areas of

neurological medicine, including brain injury.â€

An estimated 150,000 people each year have a stroke in which bleeding, or a

blood clot, starve brain cells of oxygen and they die.

It is the leading cause of disability in Britain as it often causes speech

impairment, lack of co-ordination and difficulty with everyday tasks.

Past studies into B vitamins have indicated that they can help to prevent

heart attacks and strokes.

The study, presented at the International Stroke Conference in San Antonio,

found that rats with ischemic stroke were given niacin their brains showed

growth of new blood vessels.

They also “sprouted†nerve cells, which greatly improved their

neurological functions.