Patients suffering from coronary artery disease are generally prescribed vitamin B supplements. It is believed that these supplements reduce the risk of death in these patients, but a recent research has shown that Vitamin B supplements might not be as effective as claimed. This study was led by Marta Ebbing, lead researcher and M.D. of Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen.

Researchers selected 3096 patients from two Norwegian hospitals for the study. The study subjects included 2462 males and 634 females with average age of 61 years. 59.3 percent out of these study subjects had double- or triple-vessel disease, 83.7 percent had stable angina pectoris, and 14.9 percent had acute coronary syndromes, at the start of the study. The study was conducted between 1999 and 2006. Four groups were made for the study. These participants were then randomly assigned to any of the 4 group.

The first group received a daily dose (oral) of vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid. The second group was given vitamin B12 and folic acid. The third group was given oral doses of vitamin B6 only while fourth group received placebo alone.

Researchers marked that concentration of total homocysteine in blood is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. They said that mean plasma total homocysteine concentration was reduced by 30 percent after 1 year of treatment in the groups receiving folic acid and vitamin B12. They added that a total of 422 participants, 219 from group 2 and group 4 reached the primary end point in the study.

Researchers explained, “The primary end point was a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, acute hospitalization for unstable angina pectoris, and nonfatal thromboembolic stroke.”

Analysis of data showed that 200 participants receiving vitamin B6 benefited from the treatment, compared to 222 who did not receive such treatment, researchers found.

Researchers concluded, "We found a numerically lower incidence of stroke and higher incidence of cancer in the groups receiving folic acid.”

They added that their findings do not support the use of B vitamins as secondary prevention in patients with coronary artery disease.