[Serum homocysteine levels in healthy Chilean adults].
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.
Bunout
D
D
Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Santiago, Chile.
Petermann
M
M
de la Maza
P
P
Kauffmann
R
R
Suazo
M
M
Hirsch
S
S
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
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid
Niveles de homocisteína en adultos sanos chilenos.