The VITATOPS (Vitamins to Prevent Stroke) Trial: Rationale and Design of an International, Large, Simple, Randomised Trial of Homocysteine-Lowering Multivitamin Therapy in Patients with Recent Transient Ischaemic Attack or Stroke

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest that raised plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) may be a common, causal and treatable risk factor for atherothromboembolic ischaemic stroke. Although tHcy can be lowered effectively with small doses of folic acid, vitamin B(12) and vitamin B(6), it is not known whether lowering tHcy, by means of multivitamin therapy, can prevent stroke and other major atherothromboembolic vascular …