Not everything is easily prevented by popping a pill. But strokes? Maybe.
Both folate and vitamin B12 seem to reduce the risk of a very common kind of stroke. Here’s how much you need.
It’s All About HomocysteineIn a study, men who had the highest folate intake reduced their risk of
ischemic stroke by about 30 percent. The study is part of a growing body of research showing that both folate and vitamin B12 lower levels of homocysteine, and that may be the key to their stroke-stopping powers. High blood levels of homocysteine are linked to cardiovascular problems like stroke. (
Here’s how too-high homocysteine hurts your brain, too.)
Where to Get ItYour diet is a good source of folate and B12.
Use this online tool to look up food sources. But you should also take a multivitamin with folate and vitamin B12 daily, to help make sure you get enough on a regular basis. How much folate and B12 do you need for maximum RealAge Benefits?
Find out with this tool. And to find out if vital vitamins are lacking in
your diet, take the
RealAge Nutrition Assessment for eat-better advice based on your current food intake.
Could dizziness or "pins and needles" be stroke signs? Answer the questions in this article to find out.
New Look: Tell Us What You Think!The RealAge Web site now has a new look and feel.
Check out all the changes and then give us your feedback!
RealAge Benefit: Getting 25 micrograms of vitamin B12 from a supplement can make your RealAge 0.6 years younger.
Folate, vitamin B6, and B12 intakes in relation to risk of stroke among men. He, K., Merchant, A., Rimm, E. B., Rosner, B. A., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., Ascherio, A.,
Stroke 2004 Jan;35(1):169-174.
Want more? Search all our tips by topic or interest.
