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2007-9-3 23:24:25 |
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A new study published today in the Lancet shows that long-term supplementation of high doses of folic acid improves mental capacity including short-term memory, mental agility and verbal fluency in people older than 50. Folic acid or folate is widely used to fortify flour in some countries to help prevent neural tube defects including spina bifida in newborns. Early studies have showed that folic acid supplements can reduce homocysteine, an amino acid linked to high risk of heart disease. But it is uncertain whether it would reduce risk of heart disease. Homocysteine is believed to be an indicator of a poor cognitive performance and increased risk of dementia in addition to cardiovascular disease. The current study involved 818 men and post-menopausal women aged between 50 and 70, who had high levels of homocysteine in the blood. In the study, Dr Jane Durga from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands and colleagues assigned one group of participants 800 micrograms of folic acid per day for three years. Another group as control was given a placebo. The researchers confirmed that folic acid reduced the levels of homocysteine and found that people who received the folic acid supplement had better memory and mental agility. The recommended daily allowance for folic acid is 400 mcg per day for both male and female adults, 600 for pregnant women and 500 for breastfeeding women, 65-80 for infants and 150 to 400 mcg per day for children aged 1 to 18. Folic acid is found in dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, whole wheat bread, lightly cooked beans and peas including lentils, Garbanzo beans and Lima beans, and also in fortified cereals and enriched grain products. |
