A recent study has shown that folate can help prevent strokes in people with hypertension. Folate is found in green, leafy vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, grains and is fortified in many foods in the United States. Folic acid is the supplement name. Folate and folic acid are members of the B Vitamin family. The name is derived from the Latin word, folium, which means leaf.
The job of folate is to move single carbon atoms and their attached hydrogens and oxygen molecules from one chemical compound to another. That miraculous and tiny transfer makes folate a very important player in essential cell functions. It helps make, protect, and repair DNA, the double helix that carries the body's operating manual. Folate also helps convert some amino acids, which are known s the building blocks of proteins, into others. It sounds like such a tiny nutrient and yet it is a vital part of our bodies.
Adults in China who had their diet supplemented with folic acid had a significantly lower rate of strokes that the test group without folic acid. The study also showed that the Chinese group responded best to folic acid supplementation as their diet has been low in this nutrient. Also the Chinese test group also showed significant reduction in stroke events as the group had not had strokes previously as compared to the United States research group.
Most Americans consume about one fourth of the recommended amount of folic acid per day which is 400 mcg. People on low gluten diets also may need supplementation as well. In addition, certain regions of the United States do not have folic acid supplementation in their grains and additional folic acid should be consumed. Folic acid was added to food to help prevent certain diseases like spina bifida. Now we see that there are other benefits of folic acid supplementation that we were not even aware of.
This folic acid study is an encouraging medical study because it shows again how important our diets are to our health. It also teaches us what we can control as far as our health and how paying good attention to supplementation and nutrition can be smart and prevent potentially devastating health issues and consequences from a significant event like a stroke which is often associated with hypertension. So remember to eat your greens and grains!
