Folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intakes are negatively associated with the prevalence of hypertension: A national population-based study

Abstract

We hypothesized that the prevalence of hypertension is related to B-vitamin intake in the general population, but it has not been sufficiently studied. This study aimed to investigate the intakes of dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 concerning hypertension in US adults. A total of 55 569 adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III and 1999–2014 were included in this study. Nutrient intake was collected from subjects through one or two 24-hour dietary reviews. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between these nutrient intakes and hypertension. Among male participants, dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intakes were significantly and negatively associated with the prevalence of hypertension, with multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55–0.68), 0.65 (95% CI, 0.59–0.72), and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75–0.95) for the highest quartile group compared with the lowest group. Results were similar for female participants, with multivariate-adjusted ORs of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.57–0.71), 0.60 (95% CI, 0.53–0.66), and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77–0.98) for the highest quartile group. Moreover, there was a linear trend (Ptrend < .001) in both men and women that the prevalence of hypertension tended to decrease with increased intake of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12; however, the decreases above the third quartile were negligible. Dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 were significantly associated negatively with hypertension, indicating that these nutrients might have a protective effect against hypertension in United States adults.

Graphical Abstract

This study included a total of 55 569 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Nutrient intake was collected through one or two 24-hour dietary reviews. Dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake were negatively correlated with the prevalence of hypertension. There was a tendency for the prevalence of hypertension to decline as intake increased (Ptrend < .001). Besides, dietary folate and vitamin B6 were found to interact with smoking in females.