A new study found that consuming vitamin B supplements can lower a person's risk of strokes.
After conducting a new study, researchers from Zhengzhou University in China found that consuming vitamin B supplements can lower a person's risk of strokes by seven percent. The observation was made after reviewing 14 clinical trials with a total of 54,913 participants.
For the study, researchers compared the effects of vitamin B, placebo and a very low dose of vitamin B taken by the 54,913 participants. These participants were then followed for six months, during which researchers noted 2,471 strokes among the participants. Various benefits of vitamin B were also observed. Folic acid, which is commonly found in fortified cereals and is a supplementary form of vitamin B9 reduces the risk of strokes. However, no such effect was seen with vitamin B12.
"Based on our results, the ability of vitamin B to reduce stroke risk may be influenced by a number of other factors such as the body's absorption rate, the amount of folic acid or vitamin B12 concentration in the blood, and whether a person has kidney disease or high blood pressure," study author, Xu Yuming said, according to a Counsel Heal report. "Before you begin taking any supplements, you should always talk to your doctor."
At the end of the study researchers clarified that taking vitamin B supplements doesn't affect the severity of strokes or the deaths caused due to strokes.
"Previous studies have conflicting findings regarding the use of vitamin B supplements and stroke or heart attack," Yuming, said. "Some studies have even suggested that the supplements may increase the risk of these events."
The results were published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
