|
We have
covered the topic
previously how Vitamin
Bs and Folic Acid help to reduce levels
of homocysteines in the blood and its
correlation to heart disease,
migraines and stress.
Now it appears that it also plays a role
in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
(AMD). Vision loss in older Americans is
prevalent, with AMD being one of the
leading causes of vision loss. This has
been difficult to treat with the only
known prevention being to stop smoking.
The latest
research studies have found that there
is a connection between AMD and the
amounts of homocysteine in the blood.
Research according to the February 23rd
issue of Archives of Internal
Medicine has shown that having high
levels of homocysteine can be
destructive to the linings of blood
vessels, and that treatment with vitamin
B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid appears
to lessen the amount of homocysteine
levels and may help to turn around this
blood vessel dysfunction.
A
randomized, double-blind clinical trial
involving 5,442 women age 40 and older
who already had heart disease or at
least three risk factors was performed
by William G. Christen, Sc.D., of
Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard
Medical School, Boston, and his
colleagues . Of these,
5,205 did not have AMD at the beginning
of the study. In April 1998, these women
were randomly assigned to take a placebo
or a combination of folic acid, pyridoxine
hydrochloride (vitamin B6) and cyanocobalamin (vitamin
B12). The study was conducted with participants
being tracked all the way through July 2005
and also were followed for the development of
AMD through November 2005.1,2
Over an
average of 7.3 years of treatment and
follow-up, 137 new cases of AMD were
documented, including 70 cases that were
visually significant (resulting in a
visual acuity of 20/30 or worse). Of
these, 55 AMD cases, 26 visually
significant, occurred in the 2,607 women
in the active treatment group, whereas
82 of the 2,598 women in the placebo
group developed AMD, 44 cases of which
were visually significant. Women taking
the supplements had a 34 percent lower
risk of any AMD and a 41 percent lower
risk of visually significant AMD. "The
beneficial effect of treatment began to
emerge at approximately two years of
follow-up and persisted throughout the
trial," the authors write.
1,2
"The
trial findings reported herein are the
strongest evidence to date in support of
a possible beneficial effect of folic
acid and B vitamin supplements in AMD
prevention," the authors write.
Since
they apply to the early stages of
disease development, they seem to
represent the first identified way—other
than not smoking—to reduce the risk of
AMD in individuals at an average risk.
"From a public health perspective, this
is particularly important because
persons with early AMD are at increased
risk of developing advanced AMD, the
leading cause of severe, irreversible
vision loss in older Americans."1,2
What does this mean
for you? If you have noticed a gradual
deterioration of your eyesight, it may
behoove you to take a another look
at your diet and determining with the
advice of your doctor as to whether
taking a high quality b vitamin and
folate supplementation such as
B-Active.*
References::
1. William G. Christen; Robert J. Glynn; Emily Y. Chew; Christine M. Albert; JoAnn E. Manson. Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cyanocobalamin Combination Treatment and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women: The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169 (4): 335 DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2008.574
2. JAMA and Archives Journals (2009, February 23). Vitamin B And Folic Acid May Reduce Risk Of Age-related Vision Loss. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 28, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/02/090223221336.htm
*While Active 8 Products does not claim to diagnose or treat any disease and you should consult with your doctor if unsure as to whether you should take
B-Active; these research studies indicate that it is possible that if you suffer from migraines that you could experience the same benefits of
vitamin b and folate supplementation.
B-Active is time-released for maximum
benefits and composed of B6, B12 and
Folic Acid. It is 100% guaranteed &
fully refundable if you are not
satisfied for any reason.
Additional Resource Links You Might Like in Regards to Folic Acid:
http://www.myactive8.com/HealthUpdate_22009VitBmigraines.htm
http://www.myactive8.com/A8_Update/folic.html
|
