People who took folic acid supplements along with a medication for high blood pressure called enalapril, marketed in the US as Vasotec, were less likely to have a stroke than people who took the drug alone, researchers said Sunday.
The study was based on a pool of more than 20,000 adults in China with high blood pressure but no history of stroke or heart attack, and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
After a midpoint of 4.5 years of study, 2.7 percent of those in the enalapril-folic acid group had a stroke, compared to 3.4 percent in the enalapril group.
Researchers did not see any difference between the two when it came to the risk of major hemorrhagic stroke, heart attack, death, or complications.
The study, known as the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT), "is the first large-scale randomized trial to test the hypothesis using individual measures of baseline folate levels," said researchers.
"The beneficial effect appeared to be more pronounced in participants with lower folate levels."
Folic acid is found naturally in leafy greens, fruits, nuts, beans and peas.
"Large segments of the world's population, potentially billions of people, including those living in northern China, Bangladesh and Scandinavia have low levels of folate," said an accompanying editorial in JAMA by Meir Stampfer and Walter Willett of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
"For many populations, achieving adequate levels from diet alone is difficult because of expense or availability. This study seems to support fortification programs where feasible."
AFP
Mon Mar 16 2015
People who took folic acid supplements along with a medication for high blood pressure called enalapril were less likely to have a stroke. - AFP RELAX pic
Pelan Tindakan Pendidikan dan Penghayatan Rukun Negara dilancar Ogos ini - Aaron
Ia melibatkan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, dan Kementerian Komunikasi.
Peserta maraton Cyberjaya dipapah lepasi garisan penamat
Peserta maraton rebah di garisan penamat sejurus sebelum menamatkan larian 42km dalam perlumbaan Twincity Marathon Cyberjaya.
Proton buka pusat penyelidikan dan pembangunan di Teluk Hangzhou, China
Pembukaan pusat R&D itu akan meningkatkan sinergi kecekapan dalaman mereka dengan penggunaan sumber dan pengetahuan Geely.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH tayang sijil UPSR 7A, SPM 10A
Calon PH, Pang Sock Tao menyahut cabaran Ketua Penerangan Pas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari supaya menunjukkan kelulusan pendidikan rendah dan menengahnya.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Isu stoking: Pengarah KK Mart, isteri akan kemuka representasi kepada AGC
Pengarah KK Mart yang berdepan dua pertuduhan melukakan perasaan orang Islam dalam isu berkaitan penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah akan mengemukakan representasi kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.
Inisiatif IHH Healthcare lancar pemasangan panel solar wajar jadi contoh - Fadillah Yusof
IHH Healthcare Malaysia mencatatkan pencapaian baharu dengan melancarkan inisiatif pemasangan panel solar di seluruh rangkaian hospitalnya sekali gus menjadikannya pelopor.
Che'gu Bard akan didakwa di Johor Bahru esok
Che'gu Bard berkata, ia dipercayai berhubung kenyataannya mengenai isu kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Ahmad Zahid ucap tahniah kepada Farah Ain
Ahmad Zahid mengucapkan tahniah kepada atlet boling padang Nor Farah Ain Abdullah yang muncul juara pada Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia 2024.