The role of homocysteine, folate and other B-vitamins in the development of atherosclerosis.
Recently, elevated homocysteine blood concentrations have been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic lesions. The amino acid homocysteine is metabolized in the human body involving the vitamins folic acid, B12 and B6 as essential cofactors and coenzymes, respectively. There is an inverse relationship between the status of the relevant B-vitamins and the homocysteine blood concentration. Supplementation of these vitamins results in a significant reduction of the homocysteine level. Nutritive amounts seem to be sufficient to obtain this reduction, even in the case of elevated homocysteine levels.
Pietrzik
K
K
Department of Pathophysiology of Nutrition, University of Bonn, Germany.
Brönstrup
A
A
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D006397:Hematinics; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000502:physiology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000502:physiology*
D006397:Hematinics; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid; D011736:Pyridoxine; D014805:Vitamin B 12