Vitamin B9 may reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in type 2 diabetes Original paper

In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in adults with type 2 diabetes, supplementation with vitamin B9 reduced the levels of homocysteine and C-reactive protein.

The effect of supplementation with folic acid (vitamin B9) on the levels of homocysteine (a biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk) and of biomarkers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 6) in the context of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

A total of 426 adults (average ages of 54–65; 264 men, 162 women) with T2D.

A meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials was conducted. Three trials were conducted in Iran, and 1 trial each was conducted in Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, India, and Egypt. Vitamin B9 was administered as folic acid (7 trials) or folate (2 trials) in daily doses of 0.25 to 10 milligrams. The comparator was a placebo in all the trials. The intervention duration ranged from 2 weeks to 6 months.

Supplementation with vitamin B9 reduced (improved) the levels of homocysteine (large effect size; moderate certainty) and C-reactive protein (medium effect size; moderate certainty).