Vitamins and
Supplements

for the Heart




Ian Lloyd
Pharmacist
Peoples Pharmacy

.....This is such a large topic to discuss, but always very timely. Whenever we focus on heart health, there are a few areas that need to be discussed: blood pressure, cholesterol and homocysteine. That is not to say that there are not other topics important to heart health; such as, exercise, proper diet and stress reduction. This month we will review some of the vitamins and supplements that are important for heart health.
.....Perhaps the most talked about supplements for heart health are folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12. These vitamins are important for their ability to reduce the levels of something called homocysteine in your blood. Homocysteine is a semi-toxic by-product produced when your body creates the amino acid methionine. It is not entirely clear how homocysteine is toxic to your body, but studies have shown that it is. It is known that high levels of homocysteine can increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. There is also early evidence which suggests that it may be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. The next question you might be asking is, "Why would our body produce something so harmful?" Homocysteine is meant to be changed quite quickly into other harmless substances, but it is thought that certain nutrient deficiencies

may delay this conversion. Your body requires a regular supply of folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 to rid itself of homocysteine. It has been found that people who have higher levels of homocysteine in their blood have lower levels of the three vitamins I just mentioned. Homocysteine levels are not yet routinely tested, but it can be tested
through a medical lab for about $40. You would have to discuss this with your Physician before you could head to the lab.
.....So why don't you just take these three vitamins and be done with it? Some people do; either on their own or under the advice of a Physician. The recommended dosages for these three vitamins will vary, but a good amount is 400–1,000 mcg of folic acid per day, 10–50 mg of vitamin B6 per day,

 and 50–300 mcg of vitamin B12 per day. I would recommend that you take a good multivitamin that has these ingredients in it. Check with your Peoples Drug Mart Pharmacist to see which multivitamin may be right for you. Since the Canadian government recommended that most grain products be fortified with folic acid, the rates of death from strokes has been dropping by 5.4% per year.
.....People take fish oils and omega 3 fatty acids to help reduce their cholesterol which will reduce their risk of heart disease, right? Wrong..well not entirely. Omega 3 fatty acids or fish oils have not convincingly been shown to reduce cholesterol, but the American Heart Association recommends people eat more fish to get omega 3 fatty acids. They also recommend people take omega 3 fatty acids because they can; decrease the risk of sudden death and arrhythmia, decrease thrombosis (blood clot), reduce triglyceride levels and lower blood pressure. Taking extra omega 3 fatty acids may not be for everyone. There may be some side effects seen when taking fish oil capsules; mainly upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea and ‘fishy burps’. Doses of 3 grams, or less, appear to be safe. People who are taking prescription medications to thin their blood, such as warfarin, should speak with their Doctor before taking EFAs supplements.
 

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