<p> Taking supplements of B vitamins may offer protection against the impact of air pollution on health, a new study claims.<br /><br />Researchers at Columbia University in the US found that B vitamins may play a critical role in reducing the impact of air pollution on the epigenome - compounds that can tell the genes what to do.<br /><br />The study shows how individual-level prevention may be used to control the potential pathways underlying adverse effects of PM2.5, particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres.<br /><br />These findings could have a significant public health benefit in regions of the world with frequent PM2.5 peaks, researchers said.<br /><br />"The molecular foundations of air pollution's health effects are not fully understood, and the lack of individual-level preventative options represented a critical knowledge gap," said Andrea Baccarelli, professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.<br /><br />"Our study launches a line of research for developing preventive interventions to minimise the adverse effects of air pollution on potential mechanistic markers.<br /><br />"Because of the central role of epigenetic modifications in mediating environmental effects, our findings could very possibly be extended to other toxicants and environmental diseases," said Baccarelli.<br /><br />The WHO estimates that 92 per cent of the world's population currently lives in places where air quality levels exceed the WHO limits of 10 micro-grammes per cubic metre, researchers said.<br /><br />Ambient PM2.5 pollution is one of the most prominent air pollutants because they deposit in the respiratory tract resulting in both lung and systemic inflammation and stress.<br /><br />While there has been substantial lowering of ambient PM2.5 achieved through large-scale emissions control policies over the past few decades, exposure peaks with adverse health consequences are still frequently recorded.<br /><br />"The health effects of air pollution and how it plays a role in one's health raise many complex issues," said Jia Zhong, principal investigator of the study.<br /><br />"Until we can attack the problem on an individual level we are a long way from fully tackling its challenges for the public's health," said Zhong.<br /><br />The researchers administered one placebo or B-vitamin supplement (2.5 milligrammes of folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B6, and one mg of vitamin B12) daily to each adult recruited for the trial.<br /><br />To take part in the intervention, volunteers were required to be healthy non-smokers, 18 to 60 years old, who were not taking any medicines or vitamin supplements.<br /><br />Plasma B vitamin measurements taken before and after placebo and supplementation showed that B-vitamin supplements significantly increased the median plasma concentrations of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. The research was published in the journal PNAS.</p>
<p> Taking supplements of B vitamins may offer protection against the impact of air pollution on health, a new study claims.<br /><br />Researchers at Columbia University in the US found that B vitamins may play a critical role in reducing the impact of air pollution on the epigenome - compounds that can tell the genes what to do.<br /><br />The study shows how individual-level prevention may be used to control the potential pathways underlying adverse effects of PM2.5, particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres.<br /><br />These findings could have a significant public health benefit in regions of the world with frequent PM2.5 peaks, researchers said.<br /><br />"The molecular foundations of air pollution's health effects are not fully understood, and the lack of individual-level preventative options represented a critical knowledge gap," said Andrea Baccarelli, professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.<br /><br />"Our study launches a line of research for developing preventive interventions to minimise the adverse effects of air pollution on potential mechanistic markers.<br /><br />"Because of the central role of epigenetic modifications in mediating environmental effects, our findings could very possibly be extended to other toxicants and environmental diseases," said Baccarelli.<br /><br />The WHO estimates that 92 per cent of the world's population currently lives in places where air quality levels exceed the WHO limits of 10 micro-grammes per cubic metre, researchers said.<br /><br />Ambient PM2.5 pollution is one of the most prominent air pollutants because they deposit in the respiratory tract resulting in both lung and systemic inflammation and stress.<br /><br />While there has been substantial lowering of ambient PM2.5 achieved through large-scale emissions control policies over the past few decades, exposure peaks with adverse health consequences are still frequently recorded.<br /><br />"The health effects of air pollution and how it plays a role in one's health raise many complex issues," said Jia Zhong, principal investigator of the study.<br /><br />"Until we can attack the problem on an individual level we are a long way from fully tackling its challenges for the public's health," said Zhong.<br /><br />The researchers administered one placebo or B-vitamin supplement (2.5 milligrammes of folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B6, and one mg of vitamin B12) daily to each adult recruited for the trial.<br /><br />To take part in the intervention, volunteers were required to be healthy non-smokers, 18 to 60 years old, who were not taking any medicines or vitamin supplements.<br /><br />Plasma B vitamin measurements taken before and after placebo and supplementation showed that B-vitamin supplements significantly increased the median plasma concentrations of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. The research was published in the journal PNAS.</p>