People suffering from celiac disease may potentially benefit from boosting their dietary intake of vitamins B, new research has confirmed.

Celiac disease results from intolerance to gluten and manifests itself through chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue.

It also leads to vitamin deficiency which may cause hyperhomocysteinemia, or high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that has been linked to cardiovascular disease.

A new study conducted by a team of Dutch scientists analyzed the effect of vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 daily supplements on homocysteine levels in 51 adults with celiac disease and compared them with 50 healthy individuals.

It found that vitamin B6 and folate supplements lowered the plasma levels of homocystine in people with the disease but not in the healthy control group.

Based on these findings, patients with celiac disease may consider adding nutritional supplements to help prevent hyperhomocysteinemia.

Previous studies on vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid linked them to a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration in women, a disease also tied to high blood levels of homocysteine.