Posts Tagged ‘Folic acid’
Is Folate or Folic Acid Good for Seniors?
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In the popular media and even some health media folic acid is treated as being equivalent to folate. Results from recent research show that folate is not interchangeable with folic acid in terms of health benefits for folks and this is especially applicable to seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health. It turns out that folic acid is actually an oxidized vitamin that can initiate cognitive decline in some seniors. It can can raise the risk of some cancers such as colon and rectal and can also speed up the growth of existing cancers. By way of contrast the folates are found in green and leafy vegetables such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, romaine, and lettuce. No folic acid is found in any of these foods, because folic acid is a single molecule that was crystalized back in the 1940’s by a patent medicine company.
Folic acid is a relatively stable and patentable substance that is low cost compared with folate which has a very short shelf life, is expensive and can not be patented. Back in the 1940’s companies chose to promote folic acid over folate for the above reasons. For younger folks folic acid can be a healthy supplement, because their bodies can convert it into the folates that their bodies need. For older folks such as seniors it turns out that their bodies can not convert folic acid into folates very efficiently. Current research has uncovered cases of cognitive decline in seniors that appears to be due to supplementing with folic acid instead of folate. This is good news for seniors who are concerned about seeking preemptive aging information, in order to promote their senior health.
How B Vitamins Help Senior Women
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Senior women who are concerned about their senior health need to make certain that they get enough of the B vitamins, because they reduce the risk of breast cancer by 38% and other cancers by 25%. The B vitamins lower homocysteine levels which keep women’s bones strong and promote cardiovascular health, too. It turns out that the risk of age-related macular degeneration was reduced for senior women who took the B Trinity on a daily basis. The healthy trinity of B vitamins that include B6, B12, and folic acid (vitamin B9) definitely improves cardiovascular health for both senior men and women by lowering the level of homocysteine. As an added benefit they reduce the risk of stroke as well. For both senior women and men Vitamin B12 boosts energy, helps keep the brain from degrading, and improves longevity.
Despite all these myriad health benefits why don’t the B vitamins get the press that C, D, and A do? Although some multivitamins list various B vitamins in their ingredients, they don’t tell you what health benefits they bring to the senior health table. Fortunately some of the latest research on vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid (vitamin B9) has uncovered numerous health benefits that improve our health and the health of seniors in particular. Major benefits conferred by the B Trinity for seniors include contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, to the reduction of the risk of cancer, and to a lowered risk of osteoporosis.
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Get Protection Against Colon Cancer
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Every year colon cancer attacks around one million folks making it one of the leading causes of death due to cancer. Seniors who are serious about taking steps to discover preemptive aging information, in order to avoid becoming a victim of colon cancer will appreciate reading the information in this post. In terms of cancer chemoprevention in the colon implementing healthy lifestyle choices along with nutritional supplementation can foster a healthy colon needed for senior health. Recent studies indicate that the following nutritional supplements can perform as chemopreventive agents.
Plant-based polyphenols such as curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and green tea are outstanding examples of chemopreventive agents. The following foods encourage colon health. Garlic, ginger, and cruciferous vegetables lead the parade of foods that boost the health of the colon against developing colon cancer. In terms of chemopreventive nutrients the following vitamins and minerals form a strong team defending the colon against cancer. The vitamins D and E along with the mineral calcium form a strong part of anticancer team. The vitamins B6, B12, and folate complete the vitamin branch of the team that fights colon cancer. Finally the mineral selenium together with the omega-3 fatty acids round out the team of chemopreventive nutrients.
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Seniors Need More Vitamin B-12
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Recent research has identified a serious vitamin B-12 deficiency among many seniors. The researchers estimated that as many as 40% of Americans have low levels of vitamin B-12. Making matters worse some of the drugs used to reduce stomach acid tend to increase the deficiency. In fact more than 20% of seniors over the age of 65 suffer from severe B-12 deficiency. Unfortunately the symptoms of B-12 deficiency may go undetected, because they are subtle. B-12 deficiency has been identified as a link to age-related dementia, cognitive impairment, and depression. Even mild B-12 deficiency may be a contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. Getting adequate B-12 in their diet is obviously a preemptive aging measure that will contribute to senior health.
On the positive side B-12 plays a critical role in breaking down homocystene that contributes heavily to the development of a number of chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis. It turns out that B-12 works synergistically with folic acid to reduce high levels of homocystene. Getting absorption of adequate amounts of B-12 can be a problem for seniors, because of changes in the stomach linings of seniors. This absorption problem means that eating foods that contain B-12 such as meat, milk, and eggs will not help. Taking oral supplements of B-12 may not succeed either, because it is not adequately absorbed. Taking B-12 by injection has its own limitations. Two other approaches offer hope for achieving adequate absorption by seniors. B-12 can be taken sublingually or by one of the newer oral supplements.
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Are Two Age-Related Diseases Linked?
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For seniors the leading cause of blindness is age-related macular degeneration. Recent research suggests that age-related macular degeneration may be tied to chronic vascular disease. Macular degeneration appears to be tied to the gradual degradation of blood vessels in the eye. A number of researchers investigated patients for any common risk factors for vascular disease and macular degeneration. They discovered that patients already suffering from macular degeneration had elevated levels of homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are known to be a marker for for cardiovasular risk. Additional studies verified that the higher homocysteine levels were a marker for increased risk of macular degeneration in seniors. In parallel studies researchers found that C-reactive protein inflamatory marker for cardiovascular disease was equally predictive as a marker for increased risk for macular degreneration in seniors.
The researchers next investigated the possible causes of the elevated homocysteine levels. They focused on the possible vitamin deficiences that might be contributing to the elevated homocysteine levels. They discovered that the seniors suffering from macular degeneration were deficient in levels of vitamin B6, B12, and B9 (folic acid). In a study of over 5,000 women over the age of 40 who were known to be a risk for cardiovascular disease, those who supplemented with the three members of the vitamin B family had their risk of macular degeneration reduced by over 40%. This is good news for seniors, because supplementing with three vitamin Bs and eating foods rich in those vitamins with promote health eyes that are necessary for senior health.
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B Vitamins – How Many Benefits?
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How come the B vitamins don’t get the press that C, D, and A do? Sure multivitamins list various B vitamins in their ingredients, but they don’t tell you what health benefits they bring to the senior health table. Fortunately some of the latest research on vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid (vitamin B9) has uncovered numerous health benefits that improve our health and the health of seniors in particular. Major benefits conferred by the B Trinity for seniors include contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, to the reduction of the risk of cancer, and to a lowered risk of osteoporosis. Complementary benefits of the B Trinity for seniors include contributing to improved mental ability, to decreased risk of developing macular degeneration, to boosted energy level, to elevated mood level, and to mitigating allergies. A final benefit that is like the frosting on senior’s health cake is the research that indicates that one member of the B Trinity improves longevity.
The B vitamins are particularly important for senior women, because they reduce the risk of breast cancer by 38% and other cancers by 25%. They lower homocysteine levels which keep women’s bones and hearts strong. The risk of age-related macular degeneration was reduced for senior women who took the B Trinity on a daily basis. The B Trinity definitely improves cardiovascular health for both senior men and women by lowering the level of homocysteine. As an added benefit it reduces the risk of stroke as well. For both senior women and men Vitamin B12 boosts energy, helps keep the brain from degrading, and improves longevity.
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