Folic acid supplementation and blood pressure: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 41,633 participants

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#female #humans #male #blood-pressure #hypertension

Folic acid supplementation and blood pressure: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 41,633 participants

Asbaghi et al., 2023 | Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr | Meta Analysis

Citation

Asbaghi Omid, Salehpour Sara, ... Naeini Amirmansour Alavi. Folic acid supplementation and blood pressure: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 41,633 participants. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2023;63(13):1846-1861. doi:10.1080/10408398.2021.1968787

Abstract

Hypertension is a predisposing factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The extant literature regarding the effects of folic acid supplementation on blood pressure (BP) is inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to summarize the effects of folic acid supplementation on BP. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane library, from database inception to August 2021. Data were pooled using the random-effects method and were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The pooled results of 22 studies, including 41,633 participants, showed that folic acid supplementation significantly decreased systolic BP (SBP) (WMD: -1.10 mmHg; 95% CI: -1.93 to -0.28; p = 0.008). Subgroup analysis showed that the results remained significant when baseline SBP was ≥120 mmHg, intervention duration was ≤6 weeks, intervention dose was ≥5 mg/d, in patients with CVD, males and females, and overweight participants, respectively. Furthermore, the changes observed in diastolic BP (DBP) (WMD: -0.24 mmHg; 95% CI: -0.37 to -0.10; p < 0.001) were also statistically significant. However, subgroup analysis showed that the results remained significant in subject with elevated DBP, long term duration of intervention (>6 weeks), low dose of folic acid (<5 mg/day), CVD patients, both sexes and male, and participants with normal BMI. Dose-response analysis showed that folic acid supplementation changed SBP and DBP significantly based on dose and duration. However, meta-regression analysis did not reveal any significant association between dose and duration of intervention with changes in SBP. The present study demonstrates the beneficial effects of folic acid supplementation on BP by decreasing both SBP and DBP.

Key Findings

The present study demonstrates the beneficial effects of folic acid supplementation on BP by decreasing both SBP and DBP.

Outcomes Measured

  • blood pressure
  • systolic blood pressure
  • diastolic blood pressure

Population

Field Value
Population cvd
Sample Size 41633
Age Range See abstract
Condition hypertension

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Blood Pressure
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Folic Acid

Evidence Classification

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

Provenance

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