Hard on the heels of the article last time about the benefits of a diet rich in B vitamins comes more good news. Researchers have discovered that men who consume large quantities of folic acid are far less likely to suffer a stroke. A similar result was found in men who had a high intake of B12.
Folic acid, part of the B family, is naturally found in fruits and vegetables. The US government recently advised all manufacturers to fortify grain products with folic acid, although, as we reported last time, scientists are concerned about long-term health hazards with synthetic folic acid.
The latest study merely repeats findings of earlier trials, which confirmed that folic acid could reduce levels of homocysteine, now recognized as a major cause of heart problems.
(Source: Stroke, 2004; 35: 169-174).