The study done here by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Jamia Millia Islamia suggests that food fortification and dietary supplementation with folic acid (forms of water-soluble Vitamin B-9) and Vitamin B-12 might benefit and reduce the incidence and morbidity of vascular diseases.
"Food fortification with folate and B-12 can correct nutritional deficiencies and reduce risk of vascular diseases," Seema Bhargava, lead author of the study and Senior Consultant in the Department of Biochemistry, SGRH said.
The study was conducted on 200 subjects out of which 100 were patients having vessel blockages while the rest were a group of normal people.
"Folic acid and Vitamin B-12 were found low whereas plasma homocysteine concentrations, which is responsible for plaque formation leading to blockage of arteries, were found high among the patients," Bhargava said.
The study, which was partly funded by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) suggests that Homocysteine level have a negative relation with Vitamin B-12 as it came down after the subjects were given supplements.
According to L M Srivastava, Chairperson, Department of Biochemistry, SGRH, the prevalence of vascular diseases is high among Indians due to dietary habits.
Food items like potato, greens, beans and fish contains Vitamin B but the only natural source of Vitamin B-12 is from animal products, he said.
Vascular diseases in developing nations are rising. At present it constitutes 25 per cent of all diseases but by 2030 it may rise to 36 per cent, Bhargava said.
"Our country should evaluate the relevance of food fortification with folate and Vitamin B12 so as to correct nutritional deficiencies as well as reduce risk of vascular disease," she said.
Food fortification or enrichment is the process of adding micro-nutrients to food.
"In the US and several European countries, food fortification with B-vitamins has been FDA approved for over two decades now," Bhargava said.
Rajasthan recently launched its food fortification programme this year in February. It is considered as one of the most ambitious food fortification programme in India, Chairman of SGRH, D S Rana said.
"About 75 research projects are currently in progress in the hospital and more than 250 research papers are published every year," Rana added.
