| 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
|
