A large, new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that supplementing with B vitamins did not lower the risk of a having a second heart attack for heart attack patients. The supplements, specifically vitamin B12 and folate (B9), also had no effect on cancer risk.
Back in the late 1990s, researchers were optimistic that supplementing with Bs would be a cost-effective way of lowering heart disease risk by helping reduce blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. But although study subjects who took Bs did have much lower homocysteine levels, they were just as likely to have a stroke or second heart attack.
The takeaway: Replenish your store of these water-soluble “metabolism” vitamins by eating a varied diet that includes foods rich in B vitamins, which has been shown to reduce the risk for pancreatic cancer. Supplementation with Bs is often recommended for the elderly (absorption problems), athletes (increased energy needs) and women wanting to get pregnant or already pregnant (to reduce risk for nueral tube defects).
All whole, unprocessed foods contain B vitamins, especially meats such as turkey and tuna, potatoes, bananas, lentils, beans, nutritional yeast, and molasses. For a list of all the B vitamins and excellent food sources, read on.
B1 (thiamin): important for energy, healthy brain, nerves and heart
Eat: Romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus
B2 (riboflavin): energy, red blood cell formation, skin and vision
Eat: mushrooms, low-fat yogurt, spinach
B3 (niacin): energy, skin, nerves, digestion
Eat: crimini mushrooms, tuna, salmon
B5 (pantothenic acid): energy, blood sugar, immunity
Eat: low-fat yogurt, corn, broccoli
B6 (pyroxidine): red blood cells, immunity, brain
Eat: bell peppers, spinach, bananas
B9 (folate, folic acid): red blood cells, reduces birth defects
Eat: Romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus
B12 (cobalamin): red blood cells, nerves
Eat: low-fat yogurt, salmon, shrimp