WASHINGTON, D.C., November 13, 2006 — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement industry, issued the following reaction to the results from the Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study (WAFACS) on folic acid and other B vitamins and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in women.   The study was presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2006 in Chicago, Illinois.

According to Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., consultant and past president, CRN: "There are numerous observational studies that have shown benefits of B vitamins in reducing cardiovascular risk in healthy populations.   That is the hypothesis that science should be testing:   whether life-long, generous intake of B vitamins could confer benefit in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease."  

This new trial is one of several that have tested B vitamins in people who were already ill with heart disease, and while it would have been exciting if the results had demonstrated B vitamins could either reverse disease or prevent future cardiovascular events, nutrients should not be expected to perform like drugs. "It is unrealistic to expect vitamins to undo damage caused by heart disease, nor should consumers look to B vitamins to treat disease," said Dr. Dickinson. "The real question should be whether a healthy lifestyle—eating fruits and vegetables, getting exercise, regular physician visits, and consistent use of vitamin supplements—could have prevented these women from getting heart disease in the first place."

This trial was conducted in women with prior heart disease or multiple risk factors and therefore should not be generalized to populations or purposes other than those tested in this study.  

There are many other benefits of B vitamins including folic acid, especially for women.   It would be a   public health disservice if the results of this study were misinterpreted in a manner which discouraged women of childbearing age from heeding the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control to supplement their diet with folic acid.        

The B vitamin arm of the WAFACS trial, which included 5,442 women, studied for 7.3 years, found no safety issues related to use of B vitamin supplements.      

Note to Editor:  The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing dietary supplement industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers. CRN members adhere to a strong code of ethics, comply with dosage limits and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality standards under good manufacturing practices.