Reduction of Plasma Homocyst(e)ine Levels by Cereal

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Reduction of Plasma Homocyst(e)ine Levels by Cereal

JoAnn Guest

Jan 07, 2007 09:17 PST

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Reduction of Plasma Homocyst(e)ine Levels by Breakfast Cereal

Fortified with Folic Acid in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

 

http://www.enzy.com/abstracts/display.asp?id=1160

 

Author:

Malinow MR, Duell PB, Hess DL, Anderson PH, Kruger WD, Phillipson

BE, Gluckman RA, Block PC, Upson BM

 

Source:

N Engl J Med. 1998; 338:1009-1015.

 

Abstract:

 

BACKGROUND. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended

that cereal-grain products be fortified with folic acid to prevent

congenital neural-tube defects. Since folic acid supplementation reduces levels

of plasma homocyst(e)ine, or plasma total homocysteine, which are frequently

elevated in arterial occlusive disease, we hypothesized that folic acid

fortification reduces plasma homocyst(e)ine levels.

 

METHODS. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the effects of

cereal grains fortified with three levels of folic acid, and also

containing

the recommended dietary allowances of vitamins B6 and B12 in a

randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial in 75

men and women with coronary artery disease.

 

 

RESULTS. Plasma folic acid increased and plasma homocyst(e)ine

decreased proportionately with the folic acid content of the breakfast cereal.

Cereal providing 127 µg of folic acid daily, approximating the increased daily

intake that may result from the FDA's enrichment policy, increased plasma folic

acid by 30.8 percent (P = 0.045) but decreased plasma homocyst(e)ine by only 3.7

percent (P= 0.24).

However, cereal providing

499 and 665 µg of folic acid daily increased plasma folic acid by

64.8 percent (P<0.001) and 105.7 percent (P=0.001), respectively, and decreased

plasma homocyst(e)ine by 11.0 percent (P<0.001) and 14.0 percent (P=0.001),

respectively.

 

 

CONCLUSIONS. Cereal fortified with folic acid has the potential to

increase plasma folic acid levels and reduce plasma homocyst(e)ine

levels. Further clinical trials are required to determine whether

folic

acid fortification may prevent vascular disease. Until then, our

results suggest that folic acid fortification at levels higher than that

recommended by the FDA may be warranted.

 

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets