05.01.06
According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C., findings from two new studies (HOPE-2 and NORVIT) on vitamins B6, B12 and folate supported the conclusions of a vast body of scientific research, which shows that these vitamins help lower homocysteine levels, but failed to support the hypothesis that lowering homocysteine levels in persons who already have cardiovascular disease (CVD) will provide protection against a future cardiovascular event. The studies were presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session in March in Atlanta, GA, and were published in the April 13th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to Annette Dickinson, PhD, consultant and past president of CRN, “While these studies contribute importantly to the research base, they have limited application for the general population. These studies did not test whether B vitamins used by healthy people can help keep them healthy. Instead, they looked at whether B vitamins can treat or reverse heart disease in people who already have it. Vitamins should not be expected to perform like drugs—their greatest promise is in prevention.”
CRN pointed out that it is unrealistic to expect a vitamin to undo damage caused by heart disease and that consumers should not be looking for B vitamins to treat disease. Both these studies involved seriously ill subjects. But what has to be considered, according to Dr. Dickinson, is whether the population studied would have been healthier to begin with if they had been taking B vitamins and others consistently over time. “That’s the question we’d like to see researched,” she said.
At least 10 clinical trials are now ongoing or have been recently completed looking at
According to Annette Dickinson, PhD, consultant and past president of CRN, “While these studies contribute importantly to the research base, they have limited application for the general population. These studies did not test whether B vitamins used by healthy people can help keep them healthy. Instead, they looked at whether B vitamins can treat or reverse heart disease in people who already have it. Vitamins should not be expected to perform like drugs—their greatest promise is in prevention.”
CRN pointed out that it is unrealistic to expect a vitamin to undo damage caused by heart disease and that consumers should not be looking for B vitamins to treat disease. Both these studies involved seriously ill subjects. But what has to be considered, according to Dr. Dickinson, is whether the population studied would have been healthier to begin with if they had been taking B vitamins and others consistently over time. “That’s the question we’d like to see researched,” she said.
At least 10 clinical trials are now ongoing or have been recently completed looking at