The B’s Go Bust – Again

Check this out from 1995:

Folic acid and other B vitamins reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, according to a detailed analysis of more than three dozen scientific studies.

Sounds pretty confident, right?  The subject was homocysteine, an amino acid implicated as a culprit in heart disease.  Folic acid and certain B vitamins lower homocysteine, so it stands to reason they can be used as weapons against heart disease, right?  Well, results from recent long-term studies have turned that upside down.  Back in April, a 3-year Norwegian trial found no benefit.

And now, a long study – The Women’s Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study – has found no decrease in cardiovascular events in the 5400+ women involved.

After 7.3 years of treatment and follow-up, a combination pill of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not reduce a combined end point of total cardiovascular events among high-risk women, despite significant homocysteine lowering.

So…it would seem that homocysteine is not the causative agent.  Perhaps it’s a by-product of another process.  When it’s high, you can suspect something is afoot in the cardiovascular system.  But reducing it won’t reduce the threat.  Just as brushing away sawdust has no effect on what the termites are up to.