Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

<h4>Background</h4>Folic acid is widely used to lower homocysteine concentrations and prevent adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the effect of folic acid on cardiovascular events is not clear at the present time. We carried out a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis t...

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Main Authors: Yu-Hao Zhou, Jian-Yuan Tang, Mei-Jing Wu, Jian Lu, Xin Wei, Ying-Yi Qin, Chao Wang, Jin-Fang Xu, Jia He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025142&type=printable
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author Yu-Hao Zhou
Jian-Yuan Tang
Mei-Jing Wu
Jian Lu
Xin Wei
Ying-Yi Qin
Chao Wang
Jin-Fang Xu
Jia He
author_facet Yu-Hao Zhou
Jian-Yuan Tang
Mei-Jing Wu
Jian Lu
Xin Wei
Ying-Yi Qin
Chao Wang
Jin-Fang Xu
Jia He
author_sort Yu-Hao Zhou
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Folic acid is widely used to lower homocysteine concentrations and prevent adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the effect of folic acid on cardiovascular events is not clear at the present time. We carried out a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes.<h4>Methodology and principal findings</h4>We systematically searched Medline, EmBase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, reference lists of articles, and proceedings of major meetings for relevant literature. We included randomized placebo-controlled trials that reported on the effects of folic acid on cardiovascular events compared to placebo. Of 1594 identified studies, we included 16 trials reporting data on 44841 patients. These studies reported 8238 major cardiovascular events, 2001 strokes, 2917 myocardial infarctions, and 6314 deaths. Folic acid supplementation as compared to placebo had no effect on major cardiovascular events (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.93-1.04), stroke (RR, 0.89; 95% CI,0.78-1.01), myocardial infarction (RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93-1.07), or deaths from any cause (RR, 1.00;95% CI, 0.96-1.05). Moreover, folic acid as compared to placebo also had no effect on the following secondary outcomes: risk of revascularization (RR, 1.05; 95%CI, 0.95-1.16), acute coronary syndrome (RR, 1.06; 95%CI, 0.97-1.15), cancer (RR, 1.08; 95%CI, 0.98-1.21), vascular death (RR, 0.94; 95%CI,0.88-1.02), or non-vascular death (RR, 1.06; 95%CI, 0.97-1.15).<h4>Conclusion/significance</h4>Folic acid supplementation does not effect on the incidence of major cardiovascular events, stroke, myocardial infarction or all cause mortality.
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spelling doaj-art-1beaf3ddfaa04c4cbcf607be3e7a98812025-08-20T02:37:52ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-0169e2514210.1371/journal.pone.0025142Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Yu-Hao ZhouJian-Yuan TangMei-Jing WuJian LuXin WeiYing-Yi QinChao WangJin-Fang XuJia He<h4>Background</h4>Folic acid is widely used to lower homocysteine concentrations and prevent adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the effect of folic acid on cardiovascular events is not clear at the present time. We carried out a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes.<h4>Methodology and principal findings</h4>We systematically searched Medline, EmBase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, reference lists of articles, and proceedings of major meetings for relevant literature. We included randomized placebo-controlled trials that reported on the effects of folic acid on cardiovascular events compared to placebo. Of 1594 identified studies, we included 16 trials reporting data on 44841 patients. These studies reported 8238 major cardiovascular events, 2001 strokes, 2917 myocardial infarctions, and 6314 deaths. Folic acid supplementation as compared to placebo had no effect on major cardiovascular events (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.93-1.04), stroke (RR, 0.89; 95% CI,0.78-1.01), myocardial infarction (RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93-1.07), or deaths from any cause (RR, 1.00;95% CI, 0.96-1.05). Moreover, folic acid as compared to placebo also had no effect on the following secondary outcomes: risk of revascularization (RR, 1.05; 95%CI, 0.95-1.16), acute coronary syndrome (RR, 1.06; 95%CI, 0.97-1.15), cancer (RR, 1.08; 95%CI, 0.98-1.21), vascular death (RR, 0.94; 95%CI,0.88-1.02), or non-vascular death (RR, 1.06; 95%CI, 0.97-1.15).<h4>Conclusion/significance</h4>Folic acid supplementation does not effect on the incidence of major cardiovascular events, stroke, myocardial infarction or all cause mortality.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025142&type=printable
spellingShingle Yu-Hao Zhou
Jian-Yuan Tang
Mei-Jing Wu
Jian Lu
Xin Wei
Ying-Yi Qin
Chao Wang
Jin-Fang Xu
Jia He
Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PLoS ONE
title Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_full Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_fullStr Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_short Effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_sort effect of folic acid supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025142&type=printable
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