A new study published in the Nutrition Research journal suggests that consuming more folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 could lower the prevalence of hypertension in U.S. adults. The study was conducted by researchers from the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene at Zhengzhou University, China.
The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III and NHANES 1999-2014, including a total of 55,569 adults. Participants’ nutrient intake was collected through one or two 24-hour dietary reviews, and multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between nutrient intake and hypertension.
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The results showed that among male and female participants, dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intakes were negatively associated with the prevalence of hypertension. Specifically, the highest quartile group had a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension compared to the lowest group. The trend was linear, indicating that as intake increased, the prevalence of hypertension tended to decrease. However, the decreases above the third quartile were negligible.
The researchers found that dietary folate and vitamin B6 interacted with smoking in females, suggesting that these nutrients may play a protective role against the harmful effects of smoking on blood pressure.
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Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, and affects nearly half of U.S. adults. While previous studies have suggested a link between B vitamins and blood pressure, this new study adds further evidence to support the potential protective effects of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 against hypertension.
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The researchers hypothesized that the protective effect of these vitamins may be due to their roles in regulating homocysteine levels in the body. Previous studies have also reported that high levels of homocysteine have been linked to an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and B vitamins play a crucial role in metabolizing homocysteine.
While the study’s findings are promising, the authors caution that further research is needed to confirm the results and determine the optimal intake levels of these vitamins for blood pressure regulation. However, the study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of a healthy diet rich in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 for cardiovascular health.
In conclusion, this study provides evidence that consuming more folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 may have a protective effect against hypertension in U.S. adults. A diet rich in these nutrients may help to lower the prevalence of hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal intake levels and to confirm the study’s findings.
