Dr. Steven S. Menard, DC, FIAMA
201 W. Broadway, Ste. 3E
Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: (573) 443-3400

"I cannot overemphasize the importance of wellness or maintenance care. It takes a special person to realize the necessity of this type of care because pain is rarely involved and often people don't act until pain is a motivating force. So many times when I see someone who is either taking daily pain medication and is having or has had surgery I know that we could have possibility prevented that had we seen the patient sooner."

Folic Acid Decreases Homocysteine and Risk for Cardiovascular Conditions

The amino acid homocysteine, measured through serum concentration, has been linked to risk for deep vein thrombosis, stroke, pulmonary embolism and ischemic heart disease. Determining whether homocysteine concentrations are causal for these conditions is valuable, because evidence suggests homocysteine can be lowered through folic acid supplementation- a simple and safe preventative regime.

Researchers evaluated 92 studies involving over 20,000 adults and concluded that there is good evidence that the link between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease is a causal one. They suggest that lowering homocysteine concentrations by even less than one unit (by increasing folic acid intake) may reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease by approximately 16%, deep vein thrombosis by 25%, and stroke by 24%.

Folic acid supplements can be found in any grocery or health food store but as always, a supplement is not absorbed by the body as well as the real thing. Foods provide the best environment for the body to absorb whatever is trying to be supplemented. Foods rich in Folic acid are oranges, peanuts, beets, spinach, asparagus, legumes, broccoli, tomatoes and bananas. As a rule of thumb, green leafy vegetables contain high levels of Folic acid. Also absorption is enhanced by Vitamin C.

Making sure you are getting enough Folic acid provides an inexpensive and easy way to prevent some of the worst diseases among us.

Dr. Steven S. Menard, DC, FIAMA
201 W. Broadway, Ste, 3E
Columbia, MO 65203

Practice phone: 573.443.3400
Practice Fax: 573.443.3402
E-mail: ACA3400@aol.com