After being told on a forum in which I participate that
B12 is dangerous and should not be taken except under
careful doctor supervision, because in Norway doctors
consider it a threat, I looked into the NORVIT study,
which was the basis of the snippet I heard.
This is the conclusion drawn from the NORVIT study,
"Lowering plasma homocysteine levels by as much as
28% does not result in any reduction in the risk of
myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke in patients who
have already had an MI, according to the results of the
Norwegian Vitamin Trial (NORVIT). [1] The study also
suggests that administration of combination B vitamins
with the aim of reducing plasma homocysteine may
actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and
that folic acid alone may increase the risk of cancer."
That sounds really worrying, right?
Well, let's take a closer look at what the study, which
can be seen at www.medscape.com/viewarticle/512905,
says, for instance, it says, "Study and Rationale"
"NORVIT was designed as a randomized, controlled,
double-blind, multicenter, secondary prevention trial,
testing the hypotheses that long-term (3.5-year)
treatment with a folate/vitamin B12 combination or
vitamin B6 would lower the incidence of MI and stroke
by 20% each. A substudy was also set up to test the
hypothesis that vitamin B therapy protects against loss of
cognitive function."
That sounds good, but when it comes to listing the
vitamins actually administered, it says under,
"Treatment"
Patients were randomized into 4 groups in a 2 × 2
factorial design:
Folic acid + vitamin B6
Folic acid alone
Vitamin B6 alone
Placebo"
Do you see B12 in the list? I don't.
It goes on, in the less noticeable print, to include B12,
"Doses of drugs were folic acid 0.8 mg/day (+ vitamin
B12 at a dosage of 0.4 mg/day) and vitamin B6 at a
dosage of 40 mg/day; 90% of participants reported
adherence to the study medication protocol."
Okay, so the flaw that jumps out at me is that B12 was
included at the rate of 400 mcg. That's a pretty tiny
amount. Anyone having the most basic B12 replacement
therapy has 1000 mcg a day.
At the same time, the amount of B6 that was
administered was relatively huge, 40 mg. (That's a
hundred times more.)
Significantly, none of the tables provided even mentions
B12.
I found this at TheHeart.org, "As Bønaa reported here
today, the combination of vitamin B6 and folic acid, as
well as folic acid alone, effectively lowered
homocysteine levels by 28% but did not have the
expected beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk. At
follow-up, the risk of stroke and MI was 18% in the
placebo group, roughly the same as that seen in both the
folic-acid-only group and the vitamin-B6-only group. By
contrast, in the combination group, 23% of patients had
a fatal or nonfatal stroke or MI, a statistically significant
absolute increase of 5%, compared with the other
treatment arms (p=0.029)."
Interestingly enough, the group receiving the most B12
had the most reduction in homocysteine.
(9/19/06 was about when I added the above.)
B12 is dangerous and should not be taken except under
careful doctor supervision, because in Norway doctors
consider it a threat, I looked into the NORVIT study,
which was the basis of the snippet I heard.
This is the conclusion drawn from the NORVIT study,
"Lowering plasma homocysteine levels by as much as
28% does not result in any reduction in the risk of
myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke in patients who
have already had an MI, according to the results of the
Norwegian Vitamin Trial (NORVIT). [1] The study also
suggests that administration of combination B vitamins
with the aim of reducing plasma homocysteine may
actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and
that folic acid alone may increase the risk of cancer."
That sounds really worrying, right?
Well, let's take a closer look at what the study, which
can be seen at www.medscape.com/viewarticle/512905,
says, for instance, it says, "Study and Rationale"
"NORVIT was designed as a randomized, controlled,
double-blind, multicenter, secondary prevention trial,
testing the hypotheses that long-term (3.5-year)
treatment with a folate/vitamin B12 combination or
vitamin B6 would lower the incidence of MI and stroke
by 20% each. A substudy was also set up to test the
hypothesis that vitamin B therapy protects against loss of
cognitive function."
That sounds good, but when it comes to listing the
vitamins actually administered, it says under,
"Treatment"
Patients were randomized into 4 groups in a 2 × 2
factorial design:
Folic acid + vitamin B6
Folic acid alone
Vitamin B6 alone
Placebo"
Do you see B12 in the list? I don't.
It goes on, in the less noticeable print, to include B12,
"Doses of drugs were folic acid 0.8 mg/day (+ vitamin
B12 at a dosage of 0.4 mg/day) and vitamin B6 at a
dosage of 40 mg/day; 90% of participants reported
adherence to the study medication protocol."
Okay, so the flaw that jumps out at me is that B12 was
included at the rate of 400 mcg. That's a pretty tiny
amount. Anyone having the most basic B12 replacement
therapy has 1000 mcg a day.
At the same time, the amount of B6 that was
administered was relatively huge, 40 mg. (That's a
hundred times more.)
Significantly, none of the tables provided even mentions
B12.
I found this at TheHeart.org, "As Bønaa reported here
today, the combination of vitamin B6 and folic acid, as
well as folic acid alone, effectively lowered
homocysteine levels by 28% but did not have the
expected beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk. At
follow-up, the risk of stroke and MI was 18% in the
placebo group, roughly the same as that seen in both the
folic-acid-only group and the vitamin-B6-only group. By
contrast, in the combination group, 23% of patients had
a fatal or nonfatal stroke or MI, a statistically significant
absolute increase of 5%, compared with the other
treatment arms (p=0.029)."
Interestingly enough, the group receiving the most B12
had the most reduction in homocysteine.
(9/19/06 was about when I added the above.)
_________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________
Vitamin B12 Helps Lower Homocysteine
|
A recent report on the evening
news said a "new study" had
shown that vitamin B12 made
little if any difference to
homocysteine levels, which
reminded me of the fact that in
many studies involving vitamins
the dose of the vitamin is very
low, whereas in studies of drugs
the dose is usually quite high so
as to produce more noticeable
effects. It's important to
remember this. 5/17/06
news said a "new study" had
shown that vitamin B12 made
little if any difference to
homocysteine levels, which
reminded me of the fact that in
many studies involving vitamins
the dose of the vitamin is very
low, whereas in studies of drugs
the dose is usually quite high so
as to produce more noticeable
effects. It's important to
remember this. 5/17/06
Principal NORVIT investigator
Dr Kaare Harald Bønaa
(University of Tromsø, Norway)
Dr Kaare Harald Bønaa
(University of Tromsø, Norway)
Personally, I think the man looks way too smug given
that his work is being broadcast as a failure of "B
vitamins" when in fact the study included B6 and folic
acid, with a miniscule amount of B12, so little B12 that
it is not even shown on the tables.
The American researcher, Ralph Carmel, did an equally
huge disservice to people when he published his opinion
that raising the level at which B12 was said to be
deficient would be useless.
I am sure, SURE, that if the level at which B12
deficiency was identified was higher, that I would not
have the nerve damage I do.
To wait until the level is so low that the person is
suffering multiple symptoms is egregious.
Especially when failure to promptly treat can mean that
the symptoms become permanent nerve damage.
Please read the published article about the B12 level at
which cognitive dysfunction can begin to be detected.
Article.
that his work is being broadcast as a failure of "B
vitamins" when in fact the study included B6 and folic
acid, with a miniscule amount of B12, so little B12 that
it is not even shown on the tables.
The American researcher, Ralph Carmel, did an equally
huge disservice to people when he published his opinion
that raising the level at which B12 was said to be
deficient would be useless.
I am sure, SURE, that if the level at which B12
deficiency was identified was higher, that I would not
have the nerve damage I do.
To wait until the level is so low that the person is
suffering multiple symptoms is egregious.
Especially when failure to promptly treat can mean that
the symptoms become permanent nerve damage.
Please read the published article about the B12 level at
which cognitive dysfunction can begin to be detected.
Article.
Scanned material from
which I copy typed,
above.
which I copy typed,
above.
Lack of Essential Vitamins is a health boundary that bites.
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health-boundaries-bite.com/Fingernails.html
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
Karen Kline
Your fingernails reflect your health --
Learn some warning signs --
Karen Kline
High Homocysteine Increases
Cardiovascular Disease
Vascular Disease
Coronary Heart Disease and
Heart Attacks
Alzheimer's Disease
Kidney Disease
Psoriasis
Breast Cancer
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Neural Tube Defects in Babies
Cardiovascular Disease
Vascular Disease
Coronary Heart Disease and
Heart Attacks
Alzheimer's Disease
Kidney Disease
Psoriasis
Breast Cancer
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Neural Tube Defects in Babies
What Raises Homocysteine?
Age
Smoking
Vitamin Deficiencies
Genetic Abnormalities, and
Some Medications
Age
Smoking
Vitamin Deficiencies
Genetic Abnormalities, and
Some Medications
Effective Vitamins:
Folic Acid
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Folic Acid
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Major new risk factor for heart disease discovered
VANCOUVER, CANADA It is becoming increasingly
evident that an elevated blood level of homocysteine is a
potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recent
studies also suggest that high homocysteine levels may be
associated with kidney disease, psoriasis, breast cancer,
and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Extensive past
research had shown a close link between development of
neural-tube defects in babies and the mother's
homocysteine level prior to and during pregnancy.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have
just released a major report which summarizes the
current knowledge about homcysteine and its effect on
health. Homocysteine is formed in human tissues during
the metabolism of methionine, a sulfur-containing
essential amino acid. A normal, desirable level is 10
micromol/L or less. A level of 12 micromol/L is
considered borderline and levels of 15 micromonl/L or
above are considered indicative of increased risk for
cardiovascular disease. Several factors (age, smoking,
vitamin deficiencies, and genetic abnormalities) have
been linked to increased homocysteine levels.
Medications that interact with folate such as
methotrexate, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and
colestipol/niacin combinations have also been linked to
increased homocysteine levels. The researchers reviewed
23 studies dealing with the association between
atherosclerosis and homocysteine levels and found that
patients with vascular diseases had an average level of
homocysteine that was 26 per cent higher than the level
in healthy subjects. One study found that a homocysteine
level of 4 micromonl/L above normal corresponds to a
41 per cent increase in the risk of developing vascular
disease. Another study estimates that the lives of 56,000
Americans could be saved every year if average
homocysteine levels were lowered by 5 micromonl/L.
The researchers conclude that abnormally high
homocysteine levels are a potent risk factor for
cardiovascular and several other diseases. They point out
that elevated homocysteine levels can, in most cases, be
safely and effectively lowered by supplementation with
as little as 400 micrograms per day of folic acid. Other
researchers have found that a combination of folic acid
(0.4-10 mg/day), vitamin B12 (50-1000 micrograms/day)
is highly effective in lowering homocysteine levels. (153)
references. Medical doctors at the University of
Wisconsin echo the findings of the Canadian researchers
in a separate report and describe a case of a 57-year-old
man who lowered his homocysteine level from 29
micromol/L to 2 micromol/L by supplementing with 800
micrograms/day of folic acid for two months.
Moghadasian, Mohammed H., et al. Homocysteine and
coronary artery disease. Archives of Internal Medicine.
Vol. 157, November 10, 1997, pp 2299-2308
Fallest-Strohl, Patricia C., et al. Homocysteine: A new
risk factor for atherosclerosis. American Family
Physician, Vol. 56, October 15, 1997, pp. 1607-12.
VANCOUVER, CANADA It is becoming increasingly
evident that an elevated blood level of homocysteine is a
potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recent
studies also suggest that high homocysteine levels may be
associated with kidney disease, psoriasis, breast cancer,
and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Extensive past
research had shown a close link between development of
neural-tube defects in babies and the mother's
homocysteine level prior to and during pregnancy.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have
just released a major report which summarizes the
current knowledge about homcysteine and its effect on
health. Homocysteine is formed in human tissues during
the metabolism of methionine, a sulfur-containing
essential amino acid. A normal, desirable level is 10
micromol/L or less. A level of 12 micromol/L is
considered borderline and levels of 15 micromonl/L or
above are considered indicative of increased risk for
cardiovascular disease. Several factors (age, smoking,
vitamin deficiencies, and genetic abnormalities) have
been linked to increased homocysteine levels.
Medications that interact with folate such as
methotrexate, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and
colestipol/niacin combinations have also been linked to
increased homocysteine levels. The researchers reviewed
23 studies dealing with the association between
atherosclerosis and homocysteine levels and found that
patients with vascular diseases had an average level of
homocysteine that was 26 per cent higher than the level
in healthy subjects. One study found that a homocysteine
level of 4 micromonl/L above normal corresponds to a
41 per cent increase in the risk of developing vascular
disease. Another study estimates that the lives of 56,000
Americans could be saved every year if average
homocysteine levels were lowered by 5 micromonl/L.
The researchers conclude that abnormally high
homocysteine levels are a potent risk factor for
cardiovascular and several other diseases. They point out
that elevated homocysteine levels can, in most cases, be
safely and effectively lowered by supplementation with
as little as 400 micrograms per day of folic acid. Other
researchers have found that a combination of folic acid
(0.4-10 mg/day), vitamin B12 (50-1000 micrograms/day)
is highly effective in lowering homocysteine levels. (153)
references. Medical doctors at the University of
Wisconsin echo the findings of the Canadian researchers
in a separate report and describe a case of a 57-year-old
man who lowered his homocysteine level from 29
micromol/L to 2 micromol/L by supplementing with 800
micrograms/day of folic acid for two months.
Moghadasian, Mohammed H., et al. Homocysteine and
coronary artery disease. Archives of Internal Medicine.
Vol. 157, November 10, 1997, pp 2299-2308
Fallest-Strohl, Patricia C., et al. Homocysteine: A new
risk factor for atherosclerosis. American Family
Physician, Vol. 56, October 15, 1997, pp. 1607-12.
| Vitamin B-12 increases efficiency of folic acid BONN, GERMANY. There is increasing evidence that high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine increases the risk of vascular disease, coronary heart disease, neural tube defects, and Alzheimer's disease. Folic acid supplementation is known to lower homocysteine levels and laws have recently been passed in the United States mandating folic acid fortification of bread and cereal. Now researchers at the University of Bonn report that folic acid's homocysteine lowering capacity can be markedly increased by also supplementing with vitamin B-12 (cobalamin). Their study involved 150 young, healthy women (average age of 24 years) who after a four-week washout period were radomized into three groups. Group 1 received a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid, group 2 received 400 micrograms/day of folic acid and 6 micrograms/day of vitamin B-12, and group 3 received 400 micrograms/cay of folic acid and 400 micrograms/day of vitamin B-12. After four weeks the average concentration of plasma homocysteine had dropped by 11 per cent in group 1, 15 per cent in group 2, and 18 per cent in group 3. The researchers noted that participants with high initial homocysteine concentrations benefitted more from supplementation than did women with lower homocysteine levels. It was also noted that vitamin B-12 levels increased significantly over the four-week period in the women whose supplements included vitamin B-12. This provides further proof that oral vitamin B-12 is indeed adequately absorbed. The researchers conclude that the benefits of folate supplementation can be markedly enhanced by the addition of vitamin B-12. They point out that vitamin B-12 deficiency is widespread especially among the elderly. The addition of vitamin B-12 to folic acid supplements also prevents the possibility that supplementation with just folic acid would mask pernicious anemia resulting from a vitamin B-12 deficiency which in turn may lead to irreversible nerve damage. Bronstrup, Anja, et al. Effects of folic acid and vitamin B-12 on plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy, young women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 68, November, 1998. |
