Folate may help women avoid high blood pressure

The question: Too much weight, too little activity, too much salt in the diet or too little potassium: All can make high blood pressure more likely. Does consumption of the vitamin folate also have an effect?

This study: compared daily intake of folate, in the diet and via supplements, in 93,803 women who averaged 36 years old and 62,260 women who averaged 55. Younger women who consumed at least 1,000 micrograms (mcg) were 46 percent less likely to develop hypertension than those who consumed less than 200 mcg. In the older group, the difference was 18 percent. The recommended daily intake of folate is 400 mcg for adults.

Who may be affected by these findings? Women, especially those at risk for hypertension.

Caveats: The study did not determine why folate decreased the risk more in younger than older women. Data for the study came from participants’ responses to questionnaires. The study was not randomized.

Bottom line: Women may want to talk with a doctor about whether increasing folate intake might be beneficial.

Find this study in the Jan. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association; abstract available online at www.jama.com.

Learn more about high blood pressure at www.americanheart.org and