March 2009
Marc P. McRae

 

Abstract

Objective

Folic acid supplementation has been shown to be an effective agent for improving endothelial function, a prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease; but its effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive individuals has been met with mixed results.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to investigate the effect of high-dose folic acid supplementation on blood pressure and endothelial function in hypertensive patients.

 

Conclusion

In summary, this meta-analysis has shown that supplementation with 5000 to 10 000 μg/d of folic acid for 6 weeks can lower systolic BP and increase %FMD changes. These findings are important because such changes may subsequently result in a reduction in the incidence of coronary heart disease.

Although the changes in systolic BP were modest, any small sustained change can have beneficial effects, especially in light of the low cost and absence of toxicity even when folic acid supplementation is in the range of 5000 μg/d.70

However, in light of the current epidemiologic studies showing no clinical benefit of folic acid supplementation on coronary heart disease risk, further clinical trials investigating the effects of high-dose folic acid on hard clinical cardiovascular end points, beyond BP and %FMD changes, are required.