Folic acid supplement decreases the homocysteine increasing effect of filtered coffee. A randomised placebo-controlled study

Objective: Elevated levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) are identified as independent risk factors for coronary heart disease and for fetal neural tube defects. tHcy levels are negatively associated with folic acid, pyridoxine and cobalamine, and positively associated with coffee consumption and smoking. A total of 600 ml of filtered coffee results in a tHcy increase that 200 μg of folic acid or 40 mg of pyridoxine supplementation might eliminate.