Serum homocysteine levels in healthy Chilean adults Niveles de homocisteína en adultos sanos chilenos

Abstract

Background: Hyperbomocysteinemia is a newly recognized cardiovascular risk factor that is present in 10 to 20% of European and North American individuals. Aim: To measure homocysteine levels in healthy adults in Chile. Subjects and methods: Serum homocysteine levels were measured in healthy adults using a fluorimetric HPLC method. Folic acid, vitamin B12, serum lipids, creatinine and glucose were also assessed. All subjects answered a dietary habits questionnaire. Results: One hundred twenty eight subjects (90 female) aged 22 to 78 years old were studied. Homocysteine levels were 9.7 ± 6.0 and 7.0 ± 3.1 μmol/l in men and women respectively (p< 0.001). Folic acid levels were 6.1 ± 2.7 and 6.1 ± 2.9 ng/ml in men and women, and 24% of individuals had values below 4 ng/ml. Vitamin B 12 levels were 393 ± 147 and 393 ± 163 pg/ml in the same groups. There was a negative correlation between homocysteine and folic acid levels and a positive correlation between homocysteine and creatinine levels