The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study (WAFACS) was a branch of the Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study (WACS). More than 8,100 female health care professionals were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on antioxidants. Of these, 5,442 participants in the study agreed to a second leg, which ran concurrently.1
All subjects were ages 42 and older, and had either pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or multiple risk factors. These women took one of three regimens: 2,500 mcg of folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B6 and 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12, or a placebo daily. The trial lasted 7.3 years; results are shown in Table 1. A secondary analysis on the participants in the WAFACS trial was done to determine how the B complex influenced cancer.2 These results are shown in Table 2.
| Table 1: B Vitamins and Cardiovascular Disease in Adult Women at Risk | ||
| B Vitamin Group | Placebo Group | |
| Number ofsubjects | 2,721 | 2,721 |
| Cardiovasculardisease | 406 | 390 |
| Cardiovascularmortality | 96 | 94 |
In the WAFACS study, homocysteine was only tested in a sample of 300 women (150 from each treatment group). Members of the intervention group did have lower homocysteine levels in their blood, but this did not impact either cardiovascular or cancer incidence. The lingering questions were: How representative was the sample, and would an effect have been seen if all subjects had been tested?
| Table 2: B Vitamins and Cancer in Adult Women at Risk for CVD | ||
| B Vitamin Group | Placebo Group | |
| Number ofsubjects | 2,721 | 2,721 |
| Breast cancer | 70 | 84 |
| Other cancers | 117 | 108 |
| Cancermortality | 47 | 57 |
I located a third RCT that did test all 3,096 participants for homocysteine while they took various combinations of 40 mg of B6, 400 mcg B12, 800 mcg folic acid or placebo for four years following coronary angiography.3 In groups that took either folic acid and vitamin B12, or folic acid, B12 and B6, homocysteine was reduced 30 percent after one year and remained at that level for the next three years. Unfortunately, a corresponding mortality reduction was not observed. The results are shown in Table 3.
| Table 3: B Vitamins and Mortality Post-Angiography | ||
| Intervention | Subjects | Mortality |
| Folic acid, B12, B6 | 771 | 35 |
| Folic Acid, B12 | 769 | 38 |
| B6 | 771 | 28 |
| Placebo | 779 | 30 |
The results of these large RCTs were surprising and disappointing. Clearly the homocysteine question has yet to be fully resolved.
References
Dr. Andersen's previous column (April 9 issue) discussed disappointing results from RCTs involving selenium and vitamins C and E. Read the full article online at www.dynamicchiropractic.com.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
