title: Low-dose folic acid supplementation reduces plasma levels of the cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our randomized, controlled trial was to verify the effect of folic acid supplementation on homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six women were divided randomly into 2 groups as follows: a placebo group (n = 18) and a group receiving 500 microg folic acid per day for 4 weeks (n = 18). To assess concentrations of plasma homocysteine, venous blood samples were taken on enrollment and after 4 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean plasma homocysteine levels were 10.9 +/- 2.7 micromol/L in the placebo group and 7.8 +/- 2.35 micromol/L (P <.01) in the group receiving 500 microg folic acid per day for 4 weeks. The thirds (referred to as tertiles) of women with the highest baseline homocysteine plasma levels showed the greatest reduction in homocysteine, with a mean decrease of 4.35 micromol/L (32%; P <.01), in comparison with a decrease of 3.35 micromol/L (29%; P <.01) in the middle tertile and 1.3 micromol/L (22.4%; P =.09) in the lower tertile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that low doses of folic acid are associated with a significant reduction in plasma concentrations of homocysteine. The highest initial levels of homocysteine showed the most important reduction after therapy.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Gynecology and Vascular Surgery, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Leo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Marca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgante
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zammarchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Setacci
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid