The effect of folic acid in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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#cardiovascular-diseases #dietary-supplements #folic-acid #humans #vitamin-b-complex

The effect of folic acid in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Wang et al., 2019 | Medicine (Baltimore) | Meta Analysis

Citation

Wang Yuan, Jin Yang, ... Yu Dan. The effect of folic acid in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019-Sep;98(37):e17095. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000017095

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in stroke risk has been investigated, however, the available results are inconclusive and conflicting. The purpose of this systemic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effect of folic acid in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: By searching the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate effect of folic acid supplementation in patients with CVD. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke were summarized; hazard ratios (HR), the relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were also calculated. Fixed effects models were used to combine the data. A total of 12 randomized controlled trials, which involved 47,523 participants, met the inclusion criteria in this systematic review and meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis showed that cardiovascular patients who received folic acid therapy had significantly decreased risk of stroke (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77-0.94, Pheterogeneity = .347, I = 10.6%) compared with patients who received control treatment. However, no significant difference in all-cause mortality (HR, 0.97, 95% CI, 0.86-1.10, Pheterogeneity = .315, I = 15.4%), cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.87, 95% CI, 0.66-1.15, Pheterogeneity = .567, I = 0) and risk of CHD (RR, 1.04, 95% CI, 0.99-1.10, Pheterogeneity = .725, I = 0) were found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggested that folic acid supplementation significantly reduced the risk of stroke in patients with CVD.

Key Findings

Our meta-analysis showed that cardiovascular patients who received folic acid therapy had significantly decreased risk of stroke (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77-0.94, Pheterogeneity = .347, I = 10.6%) compared with patients who received control treatment. However, no significant difference in all-cause mortality (HR, 0.97, 95% CI, 0.86-1.10, Pheterogeneity = .315, I = 15.4%), cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.87, 95% CI, 0.66-1.15, Pheterogeneity = .567, I = 0) and risk of CHD (RR, 1.04, 95% CI, 0.99-1.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population cardiovascular disease
Sample Size 47523
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Folic Acid
  • Humans
  • Vitamin B Complex

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: folate

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09