Heart disease: THIS vitamin deficiency can damage your artery walls

When it comes to vitamin deficiency, we do not anticipate a severe outcome. We all know that insufficient vitamins can be taken care of by supplements. But a recent study will shake you to the core. The study says a particular vitamin deficiency can actually have a damaging effect on the arteries.

The vitamin that we are talking about is vitamin B!

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The research study published in the Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy journal says that low levels of vitamin B12, B6 and B9 can lead to atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide.

We show that deficiency of B vitamins, which are required for homocysteine

degradation, leads to atherogenic transformation of the aorta resulting in accumulation of macrophages and lipids, impairment of its biomechanical properties and disorganization of aortic collagen/elastin in the absence of hypercholesterolemia, the researchers have said.

They have added that a combination of vitamin B deficiency and hypercholesterolemia leads to thickening of the aorta, decreased aortic water diffusion, increased LDL-cholesterol or the bad cholesterol and impaired vascular reactivity.

They further say that deficiency of B vitamins leads to atherogenic transformation of the aorta even in the absence of hypercholesterolemia and aggravates atherosclerosis development in its presence.

As per the data shared by the World Health Organisation (WHO), annually close to 18 million lives are lost due to cardiovascular diseases. Most of the cardiovascular diseases are due to atherosclerosis, which is the build up of fats and cholesterol on the artery walls, thus narrowing it down.

As per experts at John Hopkins, though it is not exactly clear how the atherosclerosis starts, certain factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, type 1 diabetes obesity, physical inactivity, a diet of highly unsaturated fat increase the risk of this disease.

Atherosclerosis is diagnosed by cardiac catheterization, doppler sonography, blood pressure comparison in ankles and arms, radionuclide angiography, Thallium/myocardial perfusion scan and computerized tomography.

"Today only half of all atherosclerosis cases can be explained by established risk factors, with many young or middle-aged individuals displaying asymptomatic and subclinical atherosclerotic lesions," the study has said, referring to other research in this field.

"Despite the identification of a number of risk factors that drive arterial wall alterations, such as dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, immune disease, malnutrition and lifestyle understanding of atherosclerosis development is still insufficient," it adds.

Vitamin B12 breaks down an important amino acid called homocysteine which is involved in the pathophysiology of the atherosclerotic process. Folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6 are important cofactors in the metabolism of homocysteine and have been shown to reduce elevated homocysteine levels effectively, several studies have said.

Deficiency of vitamin B12 will increase the level of homocysteine in the body and hence increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, stroke and also blood clots.

There are several symptoms associated with a deficiency of vitamin B12:

A pale yellowish tinge on the skin

Red tongue which is sore

Ulcers in the mouth

Pin and needle sensation in the body

Disturbed vision

Mood swings

Anxiety and depression

Gastrointestinal issues

Headache

Difficulty in concentration