Vitamins can reduce repeat angioplasty
6 September 2002
People who have had coronary angioplasty (reopening or widening of one or more blood vessels in the heart, usually with a special balloon) can reduce their chances of a repeat procedure by taking a cocktail of folate and vitamin B supplements for 6 months, say Swiss researchers.
The effects of taking the folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 supplements to reduce homocysteine levels lasted for a year, despite cessation of the supplements 6 months previously.
While the chance of a repeat procedure was reduced, the researchers found no significant advantage at 12 months in terms of fewer deaths or nonfatal myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) with the homocysteine lowering therapy over placebo (dummy tablet) (Journal of the American Medical Association 2002; 288: 973-79).
They speculated that a longer treatment course may have been necessary to see differences in these other end-points.
The researchers conducted the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in about 550 patients who had undergone successful angioplasty of at least one significant coronary stenosis (constriction or narrowing of a blood vessel in the heart).
People with unstable angina, those who had a myocardial infarction in the previous 2 weeks, had renal insufficiency or were taking other vitamin supplements were excluded from the study.
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The patients took the following for 6 months:
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Last Reviewed: 09 September 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 6/9/02
