title: A folate-rich diet is as effective as folic acid from supplements in decreasing plasma homocysteine concentrations.
abstract: Background & Aims: At least 500 mug of folic acid are required daily to treat hyperhomocysteinemia. To reach this amount by dietary changes alone may be difficult because food has a low folic acid content and bioavailability. No studies have compared the effects of similar amounts of additional folate derived from a combination of folate-rich and fortified foods or folic acid from supplements on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations, which was the aim of this study. Methods: Twenty male patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and coronary artery disease were included in a randomized, crossover intervention trial. Patients were treated daily with a combination of foods containing approximately 500 mug of folate or with one 500 mug capsule of synthetic folic acid over two five-week periods separated by a five-week wash-out period. Results: Plasma folate increased markedly (p<0.001) and plasma tHcy decreased (p<0.001) with both therapies. Folate-rich foods decreased tHcy by 8.6% (95% CI: -15.9 to -1.2) and synthetic folic acid capsules by 8% (95% CI: -13.3 to -2.7). Conclusions: This study shows, for the first time in the literature, that a folate-rich diet is as effective as folic acid capsules in decreasing plasma tHcy concentrations and adds further support to the recommendation of those diets to prevent cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: 1. Unitat de Lípids i Arteriosclerosi, Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, c/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pintó
authors.forename: M Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vilaseca
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balcells
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Artuch
authors.forename: Emili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corbella
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meco
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grinberg