Summary
This study, conducted by several Chinese and American research institutes, evaluated the effect of calcium levels on stroke risk and the efficacy of folic acid supplementation to prevent stroke among patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). 19644 males patients were included and divided into two groups. The patients received either a hypertension drug and folic acid (test group) daily or only the hypertension medication (control group). The study results showed that after 4,5 years, stroke risk increased significantly in patients who only received the hypertension drug and who had increased blood calcium levels at the beginning of the study. In contrast, patients with elevated calcium levels in their blood who received the medication in combination with folic acid had a reduced risk of stroke (6.5% vs. 3.0% in the control group). In conclusion, male patients with elevated calcium levels had an increased risk of stroke, which was reduced by 51% after folic acid supplementation. More details can be found in the study.
References
Wu H. et al.