Lee Swanson Research Update

Folate Helps Balance High Blood Pressure in Women

January 2005

folate

Folate continues to demonstrate its importance for supporting good health. A recent study showed that women who consumed 800 mcg per day or more of folate had a 29% reduction in hypertension risk compared to those whose folate intake was less than 200 mcg per day. Those whose folate intake was primarily from folic acid supplements showed an even higher 48% reduction in risk.

Researchers studied more than 150,000 women to determine if there was a link between risk of high blood pressure and their level of folate intake, including supplements. Folate intake was examined in quintiles among two age groups—women 26-46 years old and 43-70. Investigators based their findings on data collected in two large studies of women—the Nurses' Health Study I, which included 62,260 women, ages 43-70 and the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), which included 93,034 women ages 26-46.

None of the women had a history of high blood pressure when the study started. Information about physician-diagnosed high blood pressure was self-reported on health status questionnaires every two years during eight years of follow-up.

Researchers also collected data on body mass index; exercise; smoking; family history of hypertension; salt; calcium, magnesium and potassium intake; fiber intake; methionine intake; caffeine and alcohol consumption; and use of vitamins B-6, B-12 and D.

The most dramatic effects were found among the younger group. Younger women in the highest folate intake quintile (consuming more than 800 mcg per day) of total folate (dietary intake, plus supplements) had a 29% lower risk for high blood pressure than those in the lowest quintile (consuming less than 200 mcg per day of folate). Older women who had total folate intake of 800 mcg per day had a 13% lower risk.

Researchers also looked at the independent effect of supplemental folic acid by analyzing the subset of women with very low dietary intake of folate. Women in NHS II who consumed 800 mcg per day or more of folate (comprised primarily of supplemental folic acid) had a 48% reduction in hypertension risk compared to those whose folate intake was less than 200 mcg per day (and who did not take supplements).

From the American Heart Association's 58th Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference October, 2004

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