New research points to Folic acid supplements as a means to help avoid cardiovascular events, induced by heat, in elderly people. Older adults who are exposed to heat are not as likely as younger people to increase skin blood flow. This translates to larger risks of heart attacks and strokes for the elderly in hot weather.
Less nitric oxide production in older blood vessels is believed to part of the reason older adults are not as tolerant of heat as younger individuals. Previous research by the same research team showed increased nitric oxide products could be achieved by giving the participants BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin) which aided the enzymes involved in this process. It was found that Folic acid increase BH4 bioavailability.
11 adults with an average age of 71 and 11 adults with an average age of 22 participated in this study. All participants were healthy and did not have cardiovascular diseases. Participants received either the folic acid supplement or a placebo daily for 6 weeks.
Supplementation with folic acid improved vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels as a reaction to heat) in the elderly group.
Further research is needed.
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