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The study was carried out by scientists from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and looked at 156,000 nurses over an eight year period. The women fell into two age groups 27- 44 years and 43-70 and their dietary intake of folic acid was assessed at the start of the research and updated every 4 years. The results showed a significant reduction in the risk of developing hypertension amongst women taking 1,000 microgrammes (mcg) of folic acid a day (made up of diet plus supplementation) compared with those taking less than 200 mcg a day.
The greatest benefit was amongst the women under 45 who cut their risk of hypertension by about 46%.
Folic acid is found in leafy vegetables, yeast extract, wholegrain cereals and liver but levels decrease during storage and can be destroyed by cooking. It is generally accepted that the average diet in the UK provides only 200 mcg a day, so a supplement may be advisable to ensure an adequate intake.
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