Clinical Study Title:
Low-dose vitamin B-6 effectively lowers fasting plasma homocysteine in healthy elderly persons who are folate and riboflavin replete.

Plain English Summary:

This study examined the effect of vitamin b6 alone on the homocysteine levels in the blood. Many studies support the use of vitamin b6 only in conjuction with other vitamins, such as vitamin b12 or folate. In this study, a total of 22 older adults were given either a daily supplement of just vitamin b6 or a placebo for the course of 12 weeks. Other supplements were given as needed to compensate for other deficiencies. At the conclusion of the study, those participants taking vitamin b6 did have reduced homocysteine levels. This suggests that vitamin b6 alone is also effective at reducing levels of homocysteine, and is thus also a protective agent against heart disease.

Authors

McKinley MC. McNulty H. McPartlin J. Strain JJ. Pentieva K. Ward M. Weir DG. Scott JM.

Institution

Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health, University of Ulster, Coleraine, United Kingdom.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 73(4):759-64, 2001 Apr.