title: [Serum homocysteine levels in healthy Chilean adults].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperhomocysteinemia is a newly recognized cardiovascular risk factor that is present in 10 to 20% of European and North American individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure homocysteine levels in healthy adults in Chile.
  
  
  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 mumol/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 B12 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Homocysteine levels in healthy Chilean individuals are similar to those reported abroad. Low folic acid levels were found in 24% of subjects.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bunout
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de la Maza
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kauffmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suazo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid
vernacular_title: Niveles de homocisteína en adultos sanos chilenos.