Plasma homocysteine concentration is decreased by dietary intervention

High plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration is reported to be a risk factor for vascular diseases. We investigated the extent to which serum folate and plasma tHcy respond to a high intake of natural folate from food. Thirty-seven healthy females volunteered to participate in a crossover dietary intervention. The study included a baseline period and two 5-week diet periods (low- and high-folate diets) with a 3-week washout in between. The low-folate diet contained one serving of both vegetables and frui/, while during the high-folate diet the subjects ate at least seven servings of vegetables, berries, and citrus frui/. Serum and erythrocyte (RBC) folate, serum vitamin B12, and plasma tHcy concentrations were measured at the baseline and at the end of each diet period. The mean concentrations of serum and RBC folate were 11·0 (sd 3·0) nmo/ and 412 (sd 120) nmo/ at the end of the low-folate diet and 78 (95 % CI 62, 94) % and 14 (95 % CI 8, 20) % higher in response to the high-folate diet (P<0·001). The serum concentration of vitamin B12remained unchanged during the intervention. The mean plasma tHcy concentration was 8·0 μmo/ at the end of the low-folate diet and decreased by 13 (95 % CI 9, 18) % in response to the high-folate diet (P<0·001). In conclusion, a diet high in fresh berries, citrus fruit, and vegetables effectively increases serum and RBC folate and decreases plasma homocysteine.

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Increased plasma homocysteine levels without signs of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with multiple sclerosis assessed by blood and cerebrospinal fluid homocysteine and methylmalonic acid

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/1352458503ms918oa ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 239-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

M Vrethem ◽

E Mattsson ◽

H Hebelka ◽

K Leerbeck ◽

A Österberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Methylmalonic Acid ◽

Haemoglobin Concentration ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

High Serum ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Cobalamin Deficiency ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Plasma Thcy

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate if multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency. Methods: We measured serum vitamin B12, plasma folate, serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and also cerebrospinal fluid (C SF) MMA and tHcy in 72 patients with MS and 23 controls. Results: The mean plasma tHcy level was significantly increased in MS patients (11.6 mmol/L) compared with controls (7.4 mmol/L) (P =4-0.002). Seven patients showed low serum vitamin B12levels but only one of them had concomitant high plasma tHcy. None of them showed high serum MMA. Plasma or blood folate levels did not differ between MS patients and controls. We found no significant differences in mean values or frequency of pathological tests of serum B12, serum MMA, mean corpuscular volume (MC V), haemoglobin concentration, C SF tHcy or C SF MMA between patients and healthy subjects. There were no correlations between C SF and serum/plasma levels of MMA or tHcy. Serum vitamin B12, serum MMA, plasma tHcy, C SF Hcy or C SF MMA were not correlated to disability status, activity of disease, duration of disease or age. Conclusions:The relevance of the increased mean value of plasma tHcy thus seems uncertain and does not indicate functional vitamin B12 deficiency. We can not, however, exclude the possibility of a genetically induced dysfunction of the homocysteine metabolism relevant for the development of neuroinflammation/degeneration. O ur findings indicate that, regardless of a significant increase in plasma tHcy in MS patients, the MS disease is not generally associated with vitamin B12 deficiency since we did not find any other factors indicating vitamin B12 deficiency. A nalysis of C SF MMA and C SF tHcy, which probably reflects the brain vitamin B12 status better than serum, are not warranted in MS. We conclude that B12 deficiency, in general, is not associated with MS.

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Haematological studies on vegans

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn19780089 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 9-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

T. A. B. Sanders ◽

F. R. Ellis ◽

J. W. T. Dickerson

Keyword(s):

Haemoglobin Concentration ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Mean Value ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Normal Range ◽

Blood Formation ◽

Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin ◽

Erythrocyte Folate ◽

The Mean

1. The concentrations of vitamin B12 and folate in the serum and folate in the erythrocytes were determined and full blood counts made on a series of caucasian vegans and omnivore controls.2. The blood counts and films were normal in all the vegans and no subject had a haemoglobin concentration below the lower limit of normality.3. Although within the normal range, male but not female vegans had lower values for erythrocyte counts and higher values for mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin than their controls regardless of whether they were taking vitamin B12 supplements or not.4. The mean serum vitamin B12 concentration was lower in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements and in those using foods supplemented with the vitamin than in the controls, but in no subject was it below 80 ng/l.5. The serum folate concentrations were higher in the vegans than in their controls. The mean value for erythrocyte folate tended to be greater in the vegans not taking vitamin B12 supplements. No subject had an erythrocyte folate concentration of less than 100μg/l.6. It is concluded that megaloblastic anaemia is very rare in caucasian vegans and that a diet consisting entirely of plant foods is generally adequate to promote normal blood formation providing it is composed of a mixture of unrefined cereals, pulses, nuts, fruit and vegetables and is supplemented with vitamin B12.

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Homozysteinspiegel von Patienten mit Raynaud-Phänomen

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526.31.2.87 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 87-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Al-Awami ◽

Schillinger ◽

Maca ◽

Gschwandtner ◽

Bieglmayer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Homocysteine Concentration ◽

Age And Sex

Background: Patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) have vasomotor dysregulation, mainly caused by dysfunction of the endothelium. Since homocysteine has been found to be damaging to endothelial cells, we investigated the concentrations of plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in patients with primary or secondary RP compared to healthy individuals. Patients and methods: We measured the concentrations of plasma fasting homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in a group of healthy individuals (n = 45) and in patients with primary (n = 26) or secondary RP (n = 42). Results: Median homocysteine levels in healthy controls and in patients with primary RP, secondary RP were 7.9 (IQR 4.1 to 11.8) 9.8 (IQR 5.1 to14.4), and 10.6 (6.0 to15.3) mumol/L, respectively. Patients with primary and secondary RP had significantly higher homocysteine concentration compared to healthy controls (Kruskal Wallis p = 0.01). After matching for age and sex, patients with either primary or secondary RP showed significantly higher homocysteine levels (Wilcoxon p < 0.0001). No significant differences between the three groups were found concerning serum levels of vitamin B12 (p = 0.9 ) and serum folate levels (p = 0.2). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that patients with RP have higher plasma levels of homocysteine. No significant differences in folate and vitamin B12 levels were found between patients with primary RP, secondary RP, and healthy individuals.These data suggest that homocysteine may play a role in RP and may provide new clues in understanding of the vasomotor dysregulation.

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TO ESTIMATE VITAMIN B LEVEL AND FOLATE IN CHILDREN WITH INFANTILE 12 TREMOR SYNDROME

10.36106/gjra/3512423 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 160-161

Author(s):

Dinesh Kumar ◽

Mahesh Kumar Gupta ◽

Sunil Gothwal ◽

Umesh Gurjar ◽

Kailash Kumar Meena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Admissions ◽

Age Groups ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Folate Level ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical College ◽

Mother And Child ◽

The Mean

BACKGROUND- Exact incidence of ITS is not known but it was accounted for 0.2 to 2% pediatric hospital admissions in 1962 and reduced to 0.2% currently in India. Aims of this study to estimate Vitamin B level 12 and folate in children with Infantile Tremor Syndrome METHODS- This Hospital based cross sectional observational study was conducted in, Sir Padampat Mother and Child Health Institute (SPMCHI), SMS Medical College, Jaipur. RESULTS- The mean serum B level was highest in children aged 13-18 months (117.40 pg/ml) and was lowest in children aged 12 6-12 months (67.90 pg/ml). This difference in B level in different age groups was statistically not signicant (p>0.05). The mean 12 serum folate level was highest in children aged 6-12 months (17.32 ng/ml) followed by children aged 13-18 months (15.53 ng/ml) and was lowest in children aged >18 months (13.70 ng/ml). This difference in folate level in different age groups was statistically not signicant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION- Present study ndings suggest that serum vitamin B and folate levels are decreased in children with Infantile 12 Tremor Syndrome.

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Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine in postmenopausal women in Burkina Faso

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) ◽

10.1515/cclm.2005.131 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 43 (7) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rosa Chillemi ◽

Jacques Simpore ◽

Silvia Persichilli ◽

Angelo Minucci ◽

Alfonsina D'Agata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Burkina Faso ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Normal Range ◽

The Mean ◽

Low Levels ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Fertile Women

AbstractBackground: Low levels of plasma homocysteine have been found in children and adult populations living in Burkina Faso in association with a low prevalence of coronary heart disease. Methods: Based on this finding, the levels of plasma homocysteine and other thiols (cysteine, cysteinylglycine, glutathione) in postmenopausal women living in Burkina Faso were evaluated with the aim of investigating whether age and life conditions influence plasma homocysteine and other thiol levels. Results: It was found that in older postmenopausal women the mean level of homocysteine was higher (16.4±6.6 μmol/L) than in fertile women (6.8±1.2μmol/L) and that thisincrease was correlated with cysteine levels (166.6±44.6μmol/L). While the glutathione level in postmenopausal women was lower (3.6±2.3μmol/L) compared with fertile women (7.0±1.7μmol/L), cysteinylglycine levels were within the normal range (29.9±9.3μmol/L). No correlation was found between homocysteine levels and serum folate, vitamin B

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Effects of Mixed Dietary Supplements on Total Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations (tHcy): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000118 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 82 (4) ◽

pp. 260-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Salah E. Gariballa ◽

Sarah J. Forster ◽

Hilary J. Powers

Keyword(s):

Older Patients ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Acute Illness ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Total Plasma ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo ◽

Nutrient Supplement ◽

Plasma Thcy

Background: Although a number of studies have reported raised total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in free-living older people, there are no data on homocysteine response to a mixed nutrient supplement in older patients. A raised plasma homocysteine concentration in older patients is partly a reflection of their co-morbidity, including impaired renal function, and there is uncertainty about the extent to which dietary interventions can improve plasma tHcy. Aim: To determine the plasma tHcy response to dietary supplements during acute illness. Methods: Two-hundred and thirty-six hospitalized, acutely ill older patients, who were part of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, were assigned to receive a daily oral nutritional supplement drink containing 1.3 mg of vitamin B2, 1.4 mg of vitamin B6, 1.5 μg of B12, 200 μg of folic acid, or a placebo, for 6 weeks. Outcome measures were plasma tHcy concentration at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months. Results: The mean plasma tHcy concentration fell among patients given the supplements (mean difference 4.1 µmol/L [95 % C.I, 0.14 to 8.03), p = 0.043], but tHcy concentration increased between 6 weeks and 6 months, after patients stopped taking the supplements [mean difference -2.0 µmol/L (95 % C.I, -03.9 to -0.18), p = 0.033]. About 46 % of patients in the placebo group and 55 % of patients in the supplement group had hyperhomocysteinemia (>14 µmol/L) at baseline compared with 45 % and 29 % at the end of the treatment period. Conclusions: A mixed nutrient supplement containing physiological amounts of B vitamins significantly reduced plasma tHcy concentrations in older patients recovering from acute illness.

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Masked vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in the elderly

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn19850148 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 613-619 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

G. M. Craig ◽

C. Elliot ◽

K. R. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Clinical Investigation ◽

Binding Capacity ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

The Elderly ◽

Folate Deficiency ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Fe Deficiency ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Geriatric Unit

1. A high incidence of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, or both, may be found in the elderly, particularly those in hospital. This report concerns fifty cases detected in an inner-city-area geriatric unit during the course of routine clinical investigation. The majority had none of the classical haematological signs of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, and all the patients reported had a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of less than 100 fl.2. There was a significant negative correlation between the MCV and the erythrocyte folate (P< 0.01), supporting earlier published work using a low serum folate as an index of folate deficiency.3. There was no correlation between the MCV and the serum vitamin B12. Published work differs on this point.4. Serum iron, total Fe-binding capacity and percentage Fe saturation results were available in forty patients in this series. There was a significant positive correlation between the serum Fe and the MCV (P<0.01) and 34% of patients had haematological evidence of Fe deficiency. In the majority, however, there was no evidence that associated Fe deficiency had masked the haematological signs of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.5. More attention should be paid to the problem of ‘masked’ vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in the elderly. There is a case for routine screening of the elderly for vitamin B12 and folate deficiency irrespective of the MCV.

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High Serum Folate Concentrations Are Associated with Decreased Risk of Mortality among Japanese Adults

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxaa382 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sanmei Chen ◽

Takanori Honda ◽

Jun Hata ◽

Satoko Sakata ◽

Yoshihiko Furuta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Risk ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Mthfr C677t ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Mthfr C677t Polymorphism ◽

Japanese Adults ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Vitamin B 12

ABSTRACT Background Folate and vitamin B-12 are essential nutrients for normal cell growth and replication, but the association of serum folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations with mortality risk remains uncertain. Objective This study was performed to investigate the associations of serum folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations with mortality risk and test whether the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism modifies these associations. Methods A total of 3050 Japanese community residents aged ≥40 y were prospectively followed-up for mortality between 2002 and 2012. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic splines were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs of mortality. Results During a median follow-up period of 10.2 y, 336 participants died. Higher serum folate concentrations were associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality [multivariable-adjusted HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.96 for the second tertile (8.8–12.2 nmol/L; median 10.4 nmol/L) and HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.80 for the third tertile (≥12.5 nmol/L; median 15.6 nmol/L) serum folate concentrations compared with the first tertile (≤8.6 nmol/L; median 7.0 nmol/L)]. This association remained significant in all sensitivity analyses. Spline analyses showed a steady decline in all-cause mortality risk with increasing serum folate concentrations up to 20–25 nmol/L. This association persisted regardless of the MTHFR C677T genotypes. For serum vitamin B-12, the multivariable-adjusted HR of 1.32 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.79) of all-cause mortality was marginally significantly greater in the first tertile compared with the second tertile. This association was attenuated and nonsignificant after the exclusion of participants with a history of cardiovascular disease or cancer, or participants aged ≥85 y at baseline, or deaths in the first 3 y of follow-up. Conclusions Serum folate concentrations were inversely associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in Japanese adults. Serum vitamin B-12 concentrations were not consistently associated with all-cause mortality risk after accounting for reverse-causation bias.

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Interpretation of vitamin B-12 and folate concentrations in population-based surveys does not require adjustment for inflammation: Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqz303 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 111 (4) ◽

pp. 919-926 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melissa F Young ◽

Junjie Guo ◽

Anne Williams ◽

Kyly C Whitfield ◽

Sabiha Nasrin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Survey Design ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Population Based ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Serum Folate ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Population Prevalence ◽

Vitamin B 12

ABSTRACT Background Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiencies in women and children have important public health implications. However, the evidence is conflicting and limited on whether the influence of inflammation on biomarker concentrations may be sufficiently and consistently influenced by inflammation to require adjustment for interpreting concentrations or estimating population prevalence of deficiencies. Objective We examined correlations between concentrations of the inflammation biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and serum vitamin B-12 and serum and RBC folate among nonpregnant women of reproductive age (WRA; 15–49 yr) and preschool children (PSC; 6–59 mo). Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from 16 nationally representative nutrition surveys conducted in WRA (n = 32,588) and PSC (n = 8,256) from the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia project. Spearman correlations between CRP or AGP and vitamin B-12 or folate concentrations were examined, taking into account complex survey design effects. Results Correlations between inflammation and vitamin B-12 or folate were weak, with no clear pattern of association in either WRA or PSC. Correlation coefficients between CRP and vitamin B-12 for WRA and PSC ranged from −0.25 to 0.16, and correlations between AGP and vitamin B-12 ranged between −0.07 and 0.14. Similarly, correlations between CRP and serum folate ranged from −0.13 to 0.08, and correlations between AGP and serum folate between −0.21 and 0.02. Only 3 surveys measured RBC folate, and among them, correlations for WRA ranged from −0.07 to 0.08 for CRP and −0.04 for AGP (1 country). Conclusions Based on the weak and inconsistent correlations between CRP or AGP and vitamin B-12 or folate biomarkers, there is no rationale to adjust for inflammation when estimating population prevalence of vitamin B-12 or folate deficiencies in WRA or PSC.

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