Treatment with vitamin B6 and folic acid can contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis. A high concentration of the harmful amino acid homocysteine in the blood increases the risk of atherosclerosis. High concentrations of homocysteine can be reduced with vitamin B6 and folic acid.
In a Dutch study of patients with incipient atherosclerosis, the patients were divided into two groups. One group took vitamin B6- and folic acid supplements for two years while the other group - which was a control group - did not take any supplements.
In the study, the heart rhythm of the patients during physical labour (exercise ECG) was measured. It was found that the group of patients taking vitamin B6 and folic acid had fewer episodes of abnormal heart rhythm than the control group.
Some researchers, however, are sceptical about the use of exercise ECG for measuring the degree of atherosclerosis. Under all circumstances, however, the study has shown that vitamin B6- and folic acid supplements have a beneficial effect on the heart rhythm.
