[Influence of menopausal status in homocysteine plasma levels].
BACKGROUND
Some studies have found that postmenopausal women have increased plasma homocysteine levels while others do not. The aim of this study was to know if homocysteine levels are increased in Spanish postmenopausal women.


METHODS
In 100 postmenopausal women (age: mean [SD] 56 [6] years) homocysteine, creatinine, folic acid, vitamin B12 and lipoproteins were determined. Controls were 50 premenopausal women (age: 29 [6] years), 50 men with similar age to postmenopausal women, and 50 men with similar age to premenopausal women. All the subjects of the study were healthy.


RESULTS
Homocysteine concentrations were higher in postmenopausal compared with premenopausal women (8.6 [2.1]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.2-9.1 vs 7.7 [1.6]; 95% CI, 7.2-8.1 micromol/l; p < 0.05), but were not different between both men groups. Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 9 postmenopausal but in any premenopausal women (9% vs 0%; p = 0.03). Low density lipoprotein cholesterol values were higher (155 [32]; 95% CI, 148-161 vs 111 [32]; 95% CI, 101-120 mg/dl; p < 0.05), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol lower (54 [12]; 95% CI, 52-57 vs 64 [18]; 95% CI, 59-69 mg/dl; p < 0.05) in postmenopausal than premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women homocysteine levels were negatively associated with folic acid and positively associated with creatinine levels, but there was not association with age, vitamin B12 serum levels and lipoproteins.


CONCLUSIONS
In postmenopausal women increased homocysteine concentrations, together with hypercholesterolemia, could contribute to the raise of their cardiovascular risk.
Fernández-Miranda
C
C
Servicio de Medicina Interna. Unidad de Lípidos. Unidad de Menopausia. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Madrid. cfmiranda@inicia.es
de la Calle
M
M
Manuel Bris
J
J
Muelas
M
M
Gómez
P
P
Díaz-Rubio
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood; D013030:Spain
D008074:Lipoproteins; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid