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Homocysteine, an amino acid, has been linked to heart disease, but clinical trials have been inconclusive. Some experts believe that when you add up the known risks for heart attacks and strokes - things like smoking, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, family history and diabetes, they still don't explain everyone with heart disease. One explanation, they say, is homocysteine, an amino acid - a protein building block - which in populations, or comparing people with heart disease to those without and in animal research - seems linked to heart disease. But that doesn't prove cause and effect. So since homocysteine is lowered by B vitamins, especially folic acid, trials of folic acid, B12 and B6 were commenced to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Two years ago one trial had negative results and now two recent ones involving around 9000 people have also found no effect. In fact one of them suggested an increased risk from a combination of folate, B12 and B6. It might mean that homocysteine wasn't reduced enough or that folate isn't the way to do it - or - that it isn't a risk factor at all and may be a stalking horse for something else altogether.
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