Folic acid is well-known for its effect on brain and nervous system growth in utero, but its benefits may extend to your cardiovascular system. Folic acid is a synthetic form of the B vitamin folate. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, adults over the age of 19 need to take in 400 micrograms of folate each day, which is found in fortified breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables. Getting an adequate amount of folic acid can help lower your blood pressure.
Hypertension
Your blood pressure is a reflection of the force your blood flow places on the walls of your blood vessels. The term hypertension means that you blood pressure is chronically high. A normal resting blood pressure healthiest when it is below 120/80 mm Hg. Hypertension is characterized by an elevated blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg.
Folic Acid and Blood Pressure
A study by the Harvard Medical School, published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2005 found that folic acid may help lower blood pressure. The study, which spanned eight years, followed the dietary habits and blood pressure trends of 19,720 women and found that those with the highest folic acid intakes were also the least likely to develop hypertension.
Mechanism: Endothelial Functioning
Folic acid has a protective effect on your blood vessels. Endothelial cells line your blood vessels and execute the functions that your vessels must perform. This includes pliability that makes it possible for your vessels to constrict and dilate. Adequate intake of folic acid is responsible for the proper functioning of these endothelial cells. When your vessels function well, your blood pressure decreases.
Mechanism: Homocysteine
The other likely mechanism at play between folic acid and hypertension is its influence on your homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid associated with an increased risk of heart disease. High homocysteine levels indicate that your blood vessels are not functioning properly. Folic acid helps reduce your homocysteine levels, thus improving the function of your blood vessels and reducing blood pressure.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health: Folate
- BBC News.co.uk; Folic Acid 'Cuts Blood Pressure'; January 2005
- PubMed Health: Hypertension; July 2010
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Folate Intake and the Risk of Incident Hypertension Among US Women; John P Forman, M.D., et al.; 2005
- American Heart Association: Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease
