VITATOPS, the VITAmins TO Prevent Stroke Trial: Rationale and Design of a Randomised Trial of B-Vitamin Therapy in Patients with Recent Transient Ischaemic Attack or Stroke (NCT00097669) (ISRCTN74743444)

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, dementia and depression. 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 B vitamin therapy, can prevent stroke and other major …