Complex Effects of B-Vitamin Combinations on Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials over Three Decades.

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The effects of B-vitamin combinations on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, remain controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) over three decades to evaluate the association between B-vitamin combinations and mortality and arterial thrombotic outcomes. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for RCTs with minimal duration over 24 months published between January 1996 and November 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Random-effects models were used in this meta-analysis to calculate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Thirteen randomized trials enrolling 68,363 participants across both primary and secondary prevention populations were included. B-vitamin combinations were associated with a nonsignificant reduction in stroke and 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (stroke: RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.81-1.04; MACE: RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-1.01). No significant effects were observed for all-cause mortality (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.96-1.06), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.88-1.07), or MI (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.91-1.03). In primary prevention populations, B-vitamin combinations were associated with significant reductions in stroke (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.93) and MACE (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.92). A modest reduction in MACE was also observed in secondary prevention populations (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99). Between-study heterogeneity was minimal to low for ischemic outcomes, supporting the robustness of these estimates, whereas substantial heterogeneity was observed for mortality outcomes in secondary prevention populations. Conclusions: The evidence is limited by heterogeneity in trial populations, vitamin formulations and doses, and outcome definitions, with substantial between-study inconsistency for mortality outcomes and imprecision in subgroup estimates derived from a small number of contributing trials. Overall, B-vitamin combinations do not confer consistent benefit for major cardiovascular outcomes but may reduce stroke and MACE in selected primary prevention populations, suggesting that baseline cardiovascular risk and regional folic acid fortification modify treatment effects and should guide future trial design and clinical use.