Possible Interaction: Homocysteine and Vitamin B Complex

“ Vitamin B supplementation reduces but rarely normalizes homocysteine (Hcy) levels in hemodialysis patients.”

“… dietary B vitamins … circulating homocysteine (tHcy) levels, we examined the relationship among MTHFR genotype, B complex vitamins (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and riboflavin), BMD, and rate …-54 years, at the time of initial study, who were followed up for a mean (SD) of 6.6 (0.7) years.”

“In patients on hemodialysis, supraphysiologic doses of B vitamins and folate reduce homocysteine by 26-33%.”

“Supplementation with B vitamins (vitamin B9(folic acid), vitamin B12 and vitamin B6) lowers blood total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations by about 25% and reduces the relative risk of stroke overall by about 10% (risk ratio (RR) 0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99) compared with placebo.”

“Although supplementation with B vitamins reduces the concentration of homocysteine in the blood, it does not apparently reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, at least as measured in randomized controlled trials of supplementation with B vitamins (9).”

“Recently, large-scale intervention trials have been conducted to determine whether lowering homocysteine concentrations through B vitamins supplementation can decrease cardiovascular risk in healthy subjects or improve survival in patients with coronary heart disease.”

“Finally, the possibility that homocysteine lowering is in itself beneficial but is offset by adverse side effects of B vitamins on atherosclerosis deserves serious attention.”

“Plasma homocysteine levels can be reduced by dietary supplements of folic acid and B vitamins.”

“Several B vitamins are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine.”

“The influence of B vitamins on metabolic parameters such as homocysteine and polyphenols, which were markedly reduced, was also clearly measurable; however, total antioxidant capacity and peroxidase activity increased.”