Scientists from Texas State University and elsewhere found that folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are linked to a lower risk of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The condition includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. The syndrome increases a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke.
Aside from a large waist circumference, most of the disorders associated with metabolic syndrome have no symptoms.
Weight loss, exercise, a healthy diet, and smoking cessation can help. Medication may also be prescribed.
B vitamins help a variety of enzymes do their jobs, ranging from releasing energy from carbohydrates and fat to breaking down amino acids and transporting oxygen and energy-containing nutrients around the body.
Research about folate and two other B vitamins, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, has found their roles in reducing some types of cancer and heart disease.
But the associations of B vitamin status with metabolic syndrome incidence in the US population remain unclear.
In the current study, researchers aimed to examine the intakes and body levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in association with metabolic syndrome risk in a large group of US people.
This study included Black and White young adults in the US who were enrolled from 1985 to 1986 and studied until 2015 to 2016.
Their diet was assessed with a diet history. The blood levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 were assayed in a group of 1430 participants.
Metabolic syndrome was confirmed by clinic and laboratory tests and self-reported medication use.
The team found that during the 30 years of follow-up, a total of 1240 people got metabolic syndrome.
People with the highest intakes and levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 showed lower risks of metabolic syndrome.
The researchers suggest that both intakes and blood levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are linked to lower risks of metabolic syndrome among Black and White young adults in the US.
The research was published in JAMA Network Open and conducted by Jie Zhu et al.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that flaxseed oil is more beneficial than fish oil to people with diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing Intermittent fasting could help reverse type 2 diabetes.
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