Lowering homocysteine with B vitamins has no effect on blood pressure in older adults

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular health
• Nutritional science
• Gerontology

Background:

• Elevated homocysteine is linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
• The role of homocysteine in blood pressure regulation is not fully understood.
• Folate, vitamin B-12, and B-6 supplements are known to reduce homocysteine levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if B vitamin supplementation lowers blood pressure in older adults with high homocysteine.
• To assess the impact of homocysteine-lowering vitamins on blood pressure parameters.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 276 healthy older adults (age ≥ 65) with homocysteine ≥ 13 micromol/L.
• Participants received daily supplements of folate (1 mg), vitamin B-12 (500 µg), and vitamin B-6 (10 mg) or a placebo for 2 years.
• Homocysteine levels and blood pressure were monitored throughout the study.

Main Results:

• The B vitamin group showed significantly lower plasma homocysteine levels at 1 and 2 years compared to placebo.
• No significant differences in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or pulse pressure were observed between the B vitamin and placebo groups.
• Mean blood pressure differences did not exceed 1 mm Hg, even after adjusting for baseline values.

Conclusions:

• Supplemental B vitamins effectively lower homocysteine concentrations in older adults with elevated levels.
• Despite lowering homocysteine, B vitamin supplementation did not demonstrate a significant effect on blood pressure in this population.