title: High-dose short-term folate administration modifies ambulatory blood pressure in postmenopausal women. A placebo-controlled study.
abstract: In humans low intake or low levels of folate are related to elevated homocysteine (Hcy) or blood pressure (BP). This study was performed to test whether in healthy postmenopausal women a 3-week administration of folate (5-methyltetrahydrofolate: 5-MTHF) at the dose of 15 mg/day (n=15), was, in comparison to placebo (n=15), capable of modifying 24-h ambulatory BP, along with Hcy and insulin metabolism. Placebo did not modify any parameter. 5-MTHF significantly decreased nocturnal systolic (-4.48+/-1.8 mm Hg; P=0.029), diastolic (-5.33+/-1.3 mm Hg; P=0.001) and mean (-5.10+/-1.1 mm Hg; P=0.005) BP, in a way that was significantly different from that observed during placebo. 5-MTHF also reduced Hcy (11.77+/-1.15 vs 8.71+/-0.50 micromol/l; P=0.03), and insulin resistance, evaluated by HOMA-IR (2.58+/-0.04 vs 2.03+/-0.04; P=0.01). Whether maintained in the long term, 5-MTHF's cardiovascular and metabolic effect may contribute to primary cardiovascular prevention of postmenopausal women.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy. cagnacci@unimore.it
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Cagnacci
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cannoletta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid