Homocysteine, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and habitual diet in the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

An elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration seems to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE:

We evaluated the determinants of tHcy in healthy French adults.

DESIGN:

tHcy was measured by HPLC and fluorometric detection in 1139 women and 931 men aged 35-60 y. Subjects were participants of the Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study, which investigates the effects of antioxidant supplementation on chronic diseases. Red blood cell folate (RBCF), plasma vitamins B-6 and B-12, and cardiovascular disease risk factors were also measured. The habitual diet was assessed in 616 subjects. Cross-sectional analyses were adjusted for age, smoking, energy intake, and concentration or intake of folate and vitamin B-6, where appropriate.

RESULTS:

The mean (+/-SD) tHcy concentration was 8.74 +/- 2.71 micro mol/L in women and 10.82 +/- 3.49 micro mol/L in men. In women, tHcy was positively related to age (P = 0.001), apolipoprotein B (P < 0.01), serum triacylglycerol (P < 0.01), fasting glucose (P = 0.02), and coffee and alcohol consumption (both P < 0.01) and inversely related to RBCF (P = 0.11) and plasma vitamin B-12 (P = 0.08) and vitamin B-6 (P = 0.01) intakes. In men, tHcy was positively associated with body mass index (P = 0.03), blood pressure (P < 0.02), serum triacylglycerol (P < 0.01), fasting glucose (P = 0.01), and energy intake (P < 0.01) and inversely associated with physical activity (P = 0.04), RCBF (P = 0.02), plasma vitamin B-12 (P = 0.09), and dietary fiber (P < 0.01), folate (P = 0.03), and vitamin B-6 (P = 0.09) intakes.

CONCLUSION:

To control tHcy, decreasing coffee and alcohol consumption may be important in women, whereas increasing physical activity, dietary fiber, and folate intake may be important in men.

• Authors: Louise I Mennen, Geneviève Potier de Courcy, Jean-Claude Guilland, Véronique Ducros, Sandrine Bertrais, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Michèle Maurel, Marjorie Zarebska, Alain Favier, Claire Franchisseur, Serge Hercberg, Pilar Galan
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 76 Issue 6 Pg. 1279-89 (Dec 2002) ISSN: 0002-9165 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12450894 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Apolipoproteins B
• Blood Glucose
• Coffee
• Dietary Fiber
• Minerals
• Triglycerides
• Vitamins
• Homocysteine
• Vitamin B 6
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Adult
• Aging
• Alcohol Drinking
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage)
• Apolipoproteins B (blood)
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Body Constitution
• Body Mass Index
• Cardiovascular Diseases (blood)
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Coffee
• Dietary Fiber (administration & dosage)
• Dietary Supplements
• Energy Intake
• Erythrocytes (chemistry)
• Exercise
• Fasting
• Female
• Folic Acid (blood)
• France
• Homocysteine (blood)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Minerals (administration & dosage)
• Risk Factors
• Sex Characteristics
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Vitamin B 12 (blood)
• Vitamin B 6 (blood)
• Vitamins (administration & dosage)