Vitamins are among the most widely used dietary supplements by the general population.
The number of users continues to grow and every day new benefits are discovered from its use.
In the case of complex B, the fact is given by the presumption that it helps prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases, among other effects.
Many studies, including some randomized trials, have investigated the possible role of these substances in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The topic of this post is about the action of vitamin B complex and its relationship with cardiovascular health.

The much-needed vitamins

Since vitamins cannot be generated in our body, they must be ingested through the diet and it is also known that deficiencies of these cause preventable pathological states.
However, the question of whether people without vitamin or mineral deficiencies would benefit from supplementation has been the subject of countless investigations.

It is a fact that an almost negligible amount of these supplements used by adults are prescribed by a doctor.
Common reasons for supplementation use in adults are to maintain or improve overall health.
Thus, within the female sex, the most widespread use of vitamins is to improve bone health.
While within the group of men, the majority reason is to prevent heart disease or to reduce cholesterol.
DOI: http://10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.2299

The Onset of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of mortality in both sexes, in all races and ethnicities in much of the Western world.
Among attributable deaths, coronary heart disease is by far the largest contributor to mortality, followed by stroke, high blood pressure and heart failure.
Many of the traditional risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity, are thought to increase inflammation and oxidative stress, contributing to atherogenesis.
Micronutrients, including many vitamins, are involved in pathways that can modulate inflammation and oxidative damage and are therefore thought to play a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A recent primary stroke prevention trial based on 20,702 adults in China randomized the use of enalapril as the sole drug to a cohort with hypertension but no history of acute myocardial infarction or stroke.
The counterpart was assigned enalapril combined with folic acid.
After a follow-up of 4.5 years, the group that took enalapril with folic acid had a greater reduction in the incidence of ischemic stroke and cardiovascular events combined.
The results were more pronounced in patients with low baseline folate levels.
All-cause mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups.
DOI: http://10.1001/jama.2015.2274

B vitamins and Omega-3s can help prevent cardiovascular disease

Some studies have suggested that B vitamins or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.
One review aimed to examine whether combined supplementation of B vitamins and omega-3s could provide additional benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease beyond the effect of each supplement.
The findings could suggest that combined supplementation of these two nutrients may be more effective at lowering homocysteine, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the individual components.

Underlying mechanisms primarily include relief of endothelial dysfunction, inhibition of atherosclerosis and onset of lesions, reduction of oxidative stress, suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine activation, regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and interference with methylation of genes that promote atherogenesis.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081608

The role of homocysteine

Homocysteine has been established as a risk factor for atherosclerosis.
A high concentration of this marker in plasma is accompanied by an increased cardiovascular risk; Therefore, it can be assumed that reducing the plasma homocysteine level results in a decreased risk.
Vitamin B complex replacement therapy (folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12) decreases the level of homocysteine in plasma, inhibits oxidative stress and improves some biochemical and clinical parameters that indicate the progression of atherosclerosis.

Prolonged exposure to homocysteine can lead to cardiovascular disease

The administration of vitamin E can also reduce atherogenesis through its antioxidant effect.
The effectiveness of substituting vitamins B and E in decreasing cardiovascular risk has been suggested by cohort, prospective, and retrospective studies conducted over the past two decades.
In other words, homocysteine may promote vascular disease by inducing endothelial dysfunction through oxidative stress DOI: http:// 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.03.019

According to the currently accepted theory, the autooxidation of the thiol group of homocysteine generates hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, causing oxidative stress and causing inflammation of the vessel wall by the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).
Such an effect may contribute to atherogenesis by increasing the expression of inflammatory factors and enhancing the inflammatory response of the vascular endothelium.

In clinical investigations, both chronic and acute methionine-induced homocysteinemia are associated with elevated oxidative stress and alter flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation as a consequence of sustained injury to arterial endothelial cells.
Homocysteinemia decreases nitric oxide bioavailability, induces arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation, and enhances the expression or activity of key participants in vascular inflammation, atherogenesis, and atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.
It has been consistently shown that plasma folate concentrations are inversely related to plasma homocysteine concentrations, and that folic acid supplementation can decrease plasma homocysteine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11411265/

B vitamins and their role in the prevention of the cardiovascular system

Increasing folic acid intake through food and supplements decreased the risk of coronary heart disease.
A meta-analysis of randomised trials showed that folic acid supplementation could effectively reduce the risk of stroke in primary prevention. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60854-X

Therefore, folic acid or a vitamin B complex can contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
DOI: http://doi.org/ 10.3109/00365518809167487

Several studies have indicated the beneficial effects of folic acid and vitamin B complex on atherogenesis.
To date, studies have shown that folic acid improves endothelial dysfunction and nitrate tolerance.
Vitamin B complex was found to increase flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation in subjects with elevated homocysteinemia (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2362.1999.00527.x), as well as in hyperhomocysteinemic patients with established coronary artery disease (https://doi.org/10.1161/hq0701.092000)

B vitamins might enhance the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) when taken for cardiovascular disease

5-methyltetrahydrofolate was also found to rapidly improve endothelial function in human atherosclerosis.
Folic acid was also shown to improve endothelial function regardless of its homocysteine-lowering effect in several clinical studies.
Vitamin B6 prevents low-density lipoprotein-induced dysfunction of nitric oxide generation in endothelial cells.
Long-term treatment with folic acid or vitamin B complex decreases the thickness of the carotid intima-media, reduces its progression, and was found to cause carotid plaque regression in some cases.
Vitamin B complex therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of major adverse events following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Biology suggests that B vitamins might enhance the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) when taken for cardiovascular disease, but higher-quality, better-designed trials are needed to be conclusive.

Active Stress Control

Active Stress Control is a dietary supplement rich in Omega-3 DHA and a complex of B vitamins. B vitamins have been associated to help keep the nervous system in a healthy condition.
In this way, it can help to alleviate symptoms associated with stress, tiredness and fatigue.

However, according to recent studies that have shown that B vitamins along with omega-3s can help prevent cardiovascular risk, this supplement is a good candidate to consider.

Active Cardisterol

Active Cardisterol is indicated for the control of cholesterol and homocysteine thanks to its content in Omega 3, red rice yeast, policosanol, coenzyme Q10 and B vitamins.

Each daily dose provides fish oil, which is a source of omega 3, so it can act not only by reducing cholesterol, but also as an antiarrhythmic agent, improving vascular endothelial function and lowering blood pressure, platelet aggregation and serum triglyceride levels.
This is so as long as it is accompanied by a healthy lifestyle and sufficient omega 3 intake from the diet, at least 2 grams of omega 3 per day (adding diet and supplementation).

Policosanol, which is the new active ingredient recently added to the formula, is a mixture of long-chain aliphatic alcohols that are obtained from sugarcane wax, its main active component being octacosanol.
Since the 90s, when it was discovered, different clinical studies have been carried out to evaluate the effect of policosanol in reducing cholesterol levels.
Among the effects, it reduces risk factors in cardiovascular disease by decreasing LDL cholesterol oxidation, platelet aggregation, endothelial damage and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells.

Conclusion

Whether due to lifestyle or inherited risk factors, cardiovascular disease continues to be a cause for concerndue to the high number of deaths that have occurred.
This effect, which was initially linked only to Western populations, has been gaining ground and has become a phenomenon with global characteristics.

We will never tire of showing you the beneficial effects of vitamins when they are administered in the right way and according to the effects that are intended.

In this article, we show, once again, that when we consume quality supplements and in the right combinations, we can help prevent diseases that otherwise have the potential to be deadly.
And not only this, but the requirement for drugs and the well-known adverse effects that they entail are also reduced.