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Folic acid supplements may reduce the risk of stroke, a new study reports. However, their effect on other heart outcomes remains unclear.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of relevant randomized trials to assess the efficacy of folic acid supplementation in the prevention of stroke.
Study authors collected data from eight randomized trials of folic acid that had stroke reported as one of the endpoints. Relative risk (RR) was used as a measure of the effect of folic acid supplementation on the risk of stroke with a random effect model. The analysis was further stratified by factors that could affect the treatment effects.
The study found that folic acid supplementation significantly reduced the risk of stroke by 18 percent. In the stratified analyses, a greater beneficial effect was seen in those trials with a treatment duration of more than 36 months, a decrease in the concentration of homocysteine of more than 20 percent, no fortification or partly fortified grain and no history of stroke
The researchers concluded that folic acid supplementation may effectively reduce the risk of stroke in primary prevention.
Integrative therapies that have been studied in the prevention or treatment of stroke include: acupuncture, aortic acid, arnica, betel nut, choline, danshen, ginkgo, l-carnitine, melatonin, moxibustion, omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid, peppermint, physical therapy, psychotherapy, relaxation therapy, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), vitamin C and yoga.
- Wang X, Qin X, Demirtas H, et al. Efficacy of folic acid supplementation in stroke prevention: a meta-analysis. The Lancet 2007; 369:1876-1882, 02 June 2007. .
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