BMJ 2007;335:587 (22 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.335.7620.587
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Supplements to lower homocysteine concentration disappoint again
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Epidemiological and genetic studies show a clear association between high serum concentrations of homocysteine and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. So for more than a decade, researchers have been trying to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by giving people homocysteine lowering supplements of B vitamins and folic acid
. Four large trials have already reported disappointing results. Now a fifth finds that B vitamins and folic acid don't prevent cardiovascular disease, even in high risk patients with chronic renal failure. Once again, the supplements brought down participant's homocysteine concentrations but not their risk of death (hazard ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.18), heart attack (0.86, 0.67 to 1.08), stroke (0.90, 0.58 to 1.40), or amputation (1.14, 0.79 to 1.64).
No one can explain why the supplements don't work in large trials, although one explanation is the attenuating effect of fortifying cereals with folic acid. Most of the
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