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High-Dose B Vitamin Mix Lowers Stroke Risk
Dr. David Spence of the Robarts Research Institute, Ontario, Canada, et al., re-analyzed the data from the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention Trial that had concluded that there was no benefit to B vitamin supplementation for stroke patients. He re-examined the study and excluded patients who would not benefit from high-dose vitamin B therapy, such as patients with B12 malabsorption or renal impairment and those taking supplements outside the study. Dr. Spence conducted an efficacy analysis “limited to patients most likely to benefit from the treatment”. The resulting sub-group of patients (who had all experienced ischemic stroke previously) who received the high-dose mix containing 25 mg vitamin B6, 0.4 mg B12, and 2.5 mg folic acid, had reduced levels of serum homocysteine versus those receiving the low-dose mix. The reduced stroke risk is due primarily to reduced levels of serum homocysteine and the results demonstrated that vitamin B12 plays a key role in vitamin therapy for total homocysteine. ( The Tan Sheet, November 14, 2005)