title: Vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and folate nutritional status in men with hyperhomocysteinemia.
abstract: We measured the vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and folic acid nutritional status in a group of apparently healthy men (n = 44) with moderate hyperhomocysteinemia (plasma homocysteine concentration > 16.3 mumol/L). Compared with control subjects (n = 274) with normal plasma homocysteine (< or = 16.3 mumol/L) concentrations, significantly lower plasma concentrations of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (P < 0.001), cobalamin (P < 0.001), and folic acid (P = 0.004) were demonstrated in hyperhomocysteinemic men. The prevalence of suboptimal vitamin B-6, B-12, and folate status in men with hyperhomocysteinemia was 25.0%, 56.8%, and 59.1%, respectively. In a placebo-controlled follow-up study, a daily vitamin supplement (10 mg pyridoxal, 1.0 mg folic acid, 0.4 mg cyanocobalamin) normalized elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations within 6 wk. Because hyperhomocysteinemia is implicated as a risk factor for premature occlusive vascular disease, appropriate vitamin therapy may be both efficient and cost-effective to control elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ubbink
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Vermaak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000172:deficiency; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase; D011736:Pyridoxine; D014805:Vitamin B 12