Efficacy of folic acid in primary prevention of stroke among patients with hypertension in China

After folic acid had been documented to reduce birth defects, the United States mandated folic acid food fortification in grain products in 1996 and implemented the policy by 1998.1 Around this time, controversy surfaced on adverse effects of folic acid, namely its possible role in promoting carcinogenesis. However, data over the next decade failed to provide sufficient evidence to support such a claim.1,2 In addition to decreasing neural tube defects, folic acid supplementation has been hypothesized to decrease the risk of stroke and cardiovascular events; however, among the multiple randomized controlled studies thus far, all have produced inconclusive results.
Source: Journal of the American Society of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research