Plasma total homocysteine in a representative sample of 972 British men and women aged 65 and over.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a reference range for plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), an independent risk factor for vascular disease, and to explore relationships with nutritional indices for people aged 65 y and over, in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS).


METHODS
The survey procedures described in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Report (1997) included a health-and-lifestyle interview, a four-day weighed diet record, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and a fasting blood sample for biochemical indices, including tHcy.


METHODS
Eighty randomly selected postcode sectors from mainland Britain during 1995-1996.


METHODS
Of 2060 people interviewed, 1527 were visited by the nurse, 1276 gave a blood sample and 972 had tHcy measured. About 80% were in their own homes and the remainder were in nursing homes or similar institutions.


RESULTS
Significant cross-sectional relationships, both univariate and multivariate were found between tHcy and index concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 (P < 0.0001), and between tHcy and plasma creatinine, urea, calcium, zinc, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, lutein and cysteine (P = 0.013 to < 0.0001). Dietary nutrient analyses showed an association with folate intake. tHcy was also correlated with age and with domicile (free-living or institution), with history of vascular disease and with use of four classes of drugs, two of which are prescribed for vascular diseases. There was a north-south gradient in tHcy (P = 0.005), and also in food choices, blood micronutrient indices and vascular disease prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
The concentrations of tHcy found in this study provide a reference range for people aged 65 y and over, in mainland Britain. tHcy is a valuable functional index of micronutrient status and intakes for British people aged 65 y and over, which can assist the development of health-promotion strategies.
Bates
C J
CJ
Medical Research Council Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Mansoor
M A
MA
van der Pols
J
J
Prentice
A
A
Cole
T J
TJ
Finch
S
S
D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000097:blood
D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D006710:Homocysteine; D014508:Urea; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D015032:Zinc; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D002118:Calcium; D014975:Lutein