The B9 vitamin, folate, is perhaps most widely known for its benefit to pregnant women, but it also plays a role in preventing cognitive decline and reducing stroke risk, and according to a recent study, low levels may be linked to heart risks in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
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Researchers at the University of Texas studied 683 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and divided them into three groups based on the folate levels in their blood. Group one had folate levels below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter; group two had levels between 4.3 and 8.2 nanograms per milliliter; group three had levels above 8.2 nanograms per milliliter.
Over a period of 17 years, 258 of patients in the study died from heart disease. The researchers found a 50% higher risk of death from heart disease in those who had a folate level below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter.
Study senior author Dr. Maria Suarez-Almazor explained, “Our findings suggest that serum folate level might be a useful indicator to assess [the] cardiovascular mortality risk of a rheumatoid arthritis patient in clinical practice.” She added, "If future clinical studies validate a causal link, taking folate supplements could be an affordable way to reduce this risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.”
Generally speaking, the ideal way to raise your folate levels is to eat plenty of fresh, raw, organic leafy green vegetables. Asparagus, spinach, turnip greens and broccoli are all good sources, as are beans, including lentils and garbanzo beans.
In order for folic acid to be of use to your body, it must first be activated into its biologically active form – L-5-MTHF. This is the form that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier to give you the brain benefits noted. However, nearly half of adults have difficulty converting folic acid into the bioactive form because of a genetic reduction in enzyme activity. For this reason, if you take a B-vitamin supplement, make sure it contains natural folate rather than synthetic folic acid. Children seem to convert folic acid more easily.