Folate cuts risk of stroke

July 27, 2005 in Heart Health, Nutrition Topics in the News, Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements

Folate cuts risk of stroke

Folate, which has long been touted for its effects on homocysteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease, is now being praised for it ability to protect against a certain type of stroke.

Folate, which is a B vitamin appears to lower the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in the brain.

To examine the effects of folate, researches examined blood and dietary levels of folate in over 60 patients who had a hemorrhagic stroke and over 300 patients who had an ischemic stroke, the result of blocked blood flow in the brain. Researchers found that blood levels of folate were inversely associated with the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Folate, also known as folic acid is found in chicken and beef liver, chickpeas, lentils, pinto beans, asparagus, avocado and spinach.

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