Serum folate and risk of fatal coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between serum folate level and the risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) among men and women.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study with serum folate levels measured from September 1970 to December 1972, with follow-up through 1985.


METHODS
Participants in the Nutrition Canada Survey.


METHODS
A total of 5056 Canadian men and women aged 35 to 79 years with no history of self-reported CHD.


METHODS
Fifteen-year CHD mortality.


RESULTS
A total of 165 CHD deaths were observed. We found a statistically significant association between serum folate level and risk of fatal CHD, with rate ratios for individuals in the lowest serum folate level category (<6.8 nmol/L [3 ng/mL]) compared with the highest category (>13.6 nmol/L [6 ng/mL]) of 1.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.61).


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that low serum folate levels are associated with an increased risk of fatal CHD.
Morrison
H I
HI
Cancer Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Schaubel
D
D
Desmeules
M
M
Wigle
D T
DT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002170:Canada; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D015415:Biomarkers; D005492:Folic Acid