Two common vitamins have potential to reduce impact of age related disease
It is already known that pregnant mothers are advised to take folate, which is vitamin B9, along with vitamin B12. Supplements and foods containing these vitamins reduce the risk of their baby developing neural tube defects, including spina bifida.
Professor Parle McDermott and team have discovered the two B vitamins can also help reduce damage to our DNA, and therefore reduce the impact and risk of age-related diseases.
The research examined the mitochondria which produce the energy that each of our cells needs. These structures have their own DNA and, as we age, this gets damaged and causes age-related diseases. However, if we are getting optimal levels of vitamin B12 and folate, we can cut down on this damage.
Prof Anne Parle-McDermott, Director of the Life Sciences Institute said
“These vitamins are part of a metabolic pathway that produce the building blocks that make the mitochondrial DNA, if you don’t have an optimal supply of these vitamins, that pathway doesn’t work very well, and you can end up with DNA damage.”
Green leafy vegetables contain folate as well as breakfast cereals, but it is difficult to get enough from diet alone and a supplement may be needed.
Vitamin B12 is found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and specially fortified foods but is also available in supplement form.