Posts Tagged ‘folic acid’
Vitamins B and Heart Attack
One study suggests that taking vitamins B did not prevent heart attack and stroke (CVA) in people with heart disease or risk factors.
The results, according to eight clinical trials on more than 24,000 people, support the recommendations against the use of vitamins B to prevent heart disease.
The idea that the B vitamins, like folic acid, B-6 and B-12, help prevent cardiac complications from the fact that lower blood levels of an amino acid called homocysteine.
Homocysteine levels increase in people with atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries that cause heart attacks and strokes.
But researchers do not know whether high homocysteine levels promote the progression of atherosclerosis or are only an indicator of cardiac risk. No clinical trial showed that vitamin B supplements prevent heart attack and stroke.
To strengthen the evidence, the new review collected data from eight clinical trials on the effects of folic acid, vitamins B-6 and B-12 or combinations thereof.
The trials included 24,210 people with established cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis or previous stroke or other cardiac complications) or their risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol.
The authors found that adding supplements to conventional medical therapy did not lower the risk of heart attack, stroke or death of participants in the seven years of monitoring.
The results appear in the Cochrane Library, a publication of the Cochrane Collaboration, which is an international organization that evaluates medical research.
The review provides “solid evidence” that these B vitamins do not prevent heart problems and stroke, told Reuters Health Dr. Arthur J. Marti-Carvajal, Iberoamerican Cochrane Network, in Valencia, Venezuela.
The recommendation for people who want to take care of your heart health is to drop the B vitamins and either: not smoking, exercising, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar regularly and eat a balanced diet and a rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fast food and other unhealthy products.
When Vitamins Turn Against Himself
If you do not possess the minimum knowledge about the properties of the vitamins and the risk they represent, or if taken in excess, health may be at serious risk.
Taking vitamins is not an issue as simple as that. It is not close to the drugstore and buy a dozen bottles with labels indicating the benefits of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and so on. and hundreds of combinations of these with minerals. Before embarking on this crusade, which can be a lot of damage to the body, it is best to consult a specialist and follow his instructions.
Multiplicity of values
Let’s talk about multivitamins: in principle, and before thinking about getting dependent jars of colors, people should be aware that as healthy for your body is eating a balanced diet with all the energy requirements demanded daily activity. But if the idea is to choose a multivitamin, research has determined that, in the case of pregnant women, folic acid prevents birth defects. Consumed by anyone else, helps to maintain low levels of amino acids (often associated to heart disease) in the body. If someone wants to take a daily multivitamin, it is best to choose one that provides 100 to 150% of the values required vitamin A to E, including, of course, folic acid.
Do you hate milk?
To prevent diseases like osteoporosis in adulthood (especially women), people should consume calcium from children. The problem is that not everyone likes milk, and there are those who reject derivatives such as cheese, yogurt or butter, for example. These are cases that is necessary to consume vitamin D which helps maintain calcium levels that demand for fortified skeleton.
Over the years, the human body loses its ability to create vitamin D, a process that is declining and reaches a critical point, upon reaching the fifth decade. The best way to supplement the deficiency is to consume a calcium supplement daily with an addition of 200 IU of vitamin D.
Cold all the time
Those who live sneezing and a handkerchief in her hand because of frequent colds, are likely to have deficiencies in vitamin E. Those whose families have a history of heart disease, should be alert and guide its sails toward the consumption of this vitamin. But what is the correct way to take it? The expert answers: “The recommendation is to consume daily 30 IU. A multivitamin usually does not give anyone that amount, so we must take an extra vitamin E pill to achieve a higher percentage to set. Recent studies show that doses of 300 to 600 IU per day, greatly reducing the chance of heart attacks. ”
Do not overreach
Citrus fruits like oranges, are carriers of vitamin C but if it is one of those people who stay away from fruits (mistake), then you should consider taking a daily tablet containing vitamin. “The recommended daily intake is 60 mg but now, after findings from recent studies, it was determined that the body needs more than that so you can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer, stomach or colon. It is best to consume 250 mg vitamin C per day, not worth taking more because the rest will be evacuated by the body. Moreover, it is known that higher doses harm the DNA. ”
What about minerals?
Vitamins and minerals go hand in hand. So it is worth a brush of information. According to the consulting nutritionist, minerals such as selenium, iron and potassium, are needed to prevent some diseases.
“The risk of lung cancer, colon and prostate, is reduced significantly if the person consumes per day at least 200 mg of selenium. Several multivitamin supplement a small amount of this mineral, but for good measure, it is good to acquire an additional cost without being overstated because more than 800 mg daily can cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue and hair loss. As for iron, multivitamins typically provide 18 mg (good) but, for example, pregnant or lactating require more. If we speak of potassium in people with high blood pressure need more potassium than a multivitamin provides. In this case, it is ideal to take two additional 500-mg pills a day. ”
Before you head to consume a multivitamin or vitamins alone it is best to consult a doctor or nutritionist for mixtures of supplements taken daily that add up to more than 600 IU can cause headaches, kidney stones, calcification of heart valves and fatigue. The best in any case is not self-medicate.
Posted in General Health | 
Tags: amino acids, calcium, folic acid, heart disease, lung cancer, minerals, multivitamins, osteoporosis, potassium, selenium, Vitamins | 
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