Taking vitamin B nutritional supplements may help some people reduce their risk of stroke by lowering levels of an amino acid known as homocysteine, new research suggests.
One study, conducted by the University of Toronto and McMaster University, looked at the effects of vitamin B on thousands of people who already had heart disease, HealthDay News reports.
The scientists assigned subjects to one of two groups: those who took a daily dose of 2.5 mg of folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B6 and 1 mg of vitamin B12 or those who took a placebo.
According to the findings, presented at the American Stroke Associations annual conference, there was a modestly lower risk of stroke noted among those who took the B vitamins.
Meanwhile, a separate study from the UCLA suggested that taking vitamin B could reduce homocysteine levels and cut stroke patients chances of suffering another attack.
Previous research has also examined the link between lower homocysteine levels and reduced risk of stroke, although the American Heart Association says a causal link has not been established. 