Vegetarians and Stroke Risk Factors—Vitamin B12 & Homocysteine?
NutritionFacts.org
6 min, 26 sec
The video discusses how a vegetarian diet may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, which could increase homocysteine levels and stroke risk, but supplementation can mitigate these risks.
Summary
- Leonardo da Vinci's stroke might have been linked to his vegetarian diet and a resultant increase in homocysteine due to low vitamin B12 intake.
- High homocysteine levels are associated with atherosclerosis and increased risk of both clotting and bleeding strokes.
- Genetic evidence shows that certain people have naturally higher homocysteine levels, which correlates with increased stroke risk.
- Studies indicate that vegetarians, and especially vegans, often have low B12 levels unless they take supplements or consume B12-fortified foods.
- Supplementation with vitamin B12 has been shown to improve arterial function in vegetarians, suggesting a way to counteract the increased stroke risk.
Chapter 1
Speculation about Leonardo da Vinci's stroke potentially being linked to his vegetarian diet and the role of B12 deficiency in increasing stroke risk.
- Da Vinci's stroke might have been caused by a long-term vegetarian diet leading to B12 deficiency.
- A lack of vitamin B12 can increase homocysteine levels, a known risk factor for stroke.
Chapter 2
High homocysteine levels are linked to stroke risk, and genetic factors can also play a role in these increased levels.
- Higher homocysteine levels are associated with more atherosclerosis and higher risk of strokes.
- About 10% of the population has a gene that naturally increases homocysteine levels, correlating to a higher chance of stroke.
Chapter 3
Vegetarians are at an increased risk of stroke due to B12 deficiency, which is common among those not supplementing their diet.
- A large portion of vegetarians and the majority of vegans have B12 deficiency due to insufficient supplementation.
- In the UK, unlike the US, there is no mandatory B12 fortification in organic foods, leading to higher deficiency rates.
Chapter 4
Research shows that vegetarians have similar levels of atherosclerosis as non-vegetarians, potentially due to B12 deficiency.
- No significant difference in atherosclerosis was found between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, possibly due to B12 deficiency.
- Vegetarians may have worse artery function, which is concerning for their vascular health.
Chapter 5
Supplementing with vitamin B12 can improve arterial function in vegetarians with a subnormal B12 status.
- A double-blind placebo-controlled study revealed that B12 supplementation improved arterial function in vegetarians.
- This supplementation may explain the higher stroke risk found in vegetarians due to prevalent B12 deficiency.
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