Folic acid can lower the chance of suffering from a stroke and especially among those who having high blood pressure, finds a new study conducted in China.

For the study, 20,000 Chinese adults were monitored. The study subjects were having high blood pressure and some of them had a history of stroke or heart disease.

In the trial carried out for 4.5 years, patients who took both folic acid and supplements along with the anti-hypertension drug enalapril had fewer chances to suffer a stroke than those who just took high blood pressure medication.

The best way to have sufficient amount of folic acid in the diet is to have loads of green leafy vegetables, beans, and citrus fruits. In fact, in the United States, most of grain-based food items, including wheat flour, cornmeal, pasta and rice have folate.

The study is considered to be important for those nations, where folate intake is inadequate. "Fruits and vegetables are important sources of folate in the diet, and they also bring lots of other benefits, such as potassium and phytonutrients, that also help lower cardiovascular disease", said Dr. Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

The researchers have suggested that everyone and especially those with high blood pressure should eat generous amount of vegetables.