Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2012 Oct;22(10):890-9.
Folate and risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Wang ZM, Zhou B, Nie ZL, Gao W, Wang YS, Zhao H, Zhu J, Yan JJ, Yang ZJ, Wang LS.
Source
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical
University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS:
Epidemiologic studies are inconsistent regarding the association between folate
and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The aim was to perform a meta-analysis to
determine whether an association exists between folate and total CHD endpoints
in prospective studies.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
We searched the PUBMED and EMBASE databases for studies conducted from 1966
through August 2010. Data were independently abstracted by 2 investigators using
a standardized protocol. Study-specific risk estimates were combined by using a
random effects model. A total of 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis:
7 studies on dietary folate intake and 8 studies on blood folate levels. For
dietary intake, the summary relative risk (RR) indicated a significant
association between the highest folate intake and reduced risk of CHD (summary
RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.80). Furthermore, an increase in folate intake of 200
ug/day was associated with a 12% decrease in the risk of developing CHD (summary
RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.94). For blood folate levels, we also found a
borderline inverse association of highest blood folate levels on CHD risk (summary
RR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.53, 1.02); our dose-response analysis indicated that an
increment in blood folate levels of 5 mmol/l was associated with an 8% decrease
in the risk of developing CHD (summary RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.00).
CONCLUSION:
This meta-analysis suggests that dietary folate intake and blood folate level
are inversely associated with CHD risk.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21924595 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]