Homocysteine and folate levels in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess total homocysteine (tHcy) and folate levels in postmenopausal women and investigate whether age, menopause duration, kind of menopause and tobacco use had an effect on these levels.


METHODS
Total homocysteine and folate levels were measured in fasting blood samples of 200 postmenopausal women with normal thyroid and renal function tests. Patients were not receiving vitamins or hormone replacement therapy.


RESULTS
Total homocysteine levels increased significantly after 60 years while folate levels showed a decrease trend after 65 years. Menopause duration had no effect on folate levels and increased significantly tHcy levels after >180 months duration. The kind of menopause did not influence tHcy and folate levels. Tobacco use reduced significantly folate levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Age seems to be the principal factor influencing tHcy levels. We believe that decreased folate levels also reflect an age-associated inadequate dietary intake. Tobacco use did not alter tHcy levels; however, we found smoking to lower folate levels.
Christodoulakos
G
G
Menopause Clinic, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Panoulis
C
C
Rizos
D
D
Moustakarias
T
T
Phocas
I
I
Creatsas
G
G
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid