Vitamin B6 and Heart Disease

What is the relationship between vitamin B6, homocysteine, and heart disease?

Article Summary:

A deficiency of vitamin B6, folic acid, or vitamin B12 may increase your level of homocysteine, an amino acid normally found in your blood. There is evidence that an elevated homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The evidence suggests that high levels of homocysteine may damage coronary arteries or make it easier for blood clotting cells called platelets to clump together and form a clot.

Institution:

Office of Dietary Supplements, Warren G. Magnusen Clinical Center

Country of Publication:

United States

Source:

National Institutes of Health

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