Homocysteine, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and habitual diet in the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study.
BACKGROUND
An elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration seems to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the determinants of tHcy in healthy French adults.


METHODS
tHcy was measured by HPLC and fluorometric detection in 1139 women and 931 men aged 35-60 y. Subjects were participants of the Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study, which investigates the effects of antioxidant supplementation on chronic diseases. Red blood cell folate (RBCF), plasma vitamins B-6 and B-12, and cardiovascular disease risk factors were also measured. The habitual diet was assessed in 616 subjects. Cross-sectional analyses were adjusted for age, smoking, energy intake, and concentration or intake of folate and vitamin B-6, where appropriate.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-SD) tHcy concentration was 8.74 +/- 2.71 micro mol/L in women and 10.82 +/- 3.49 micro mol/L in men. In women, tHcy was positively related to age (P = 0.001), apolipoprotein B (P < 0.01), serum triacylglycerol (P < 0.01), fasting glucose (P = 0.02), and coffee and alcohol consumption (both P < 0.01) and inversely related to RBCF (P = 0.11) and plasma vitamin B-12 (P = 0.08) and vitamin B-6 (P = 0.01) intakes. In men, tHcy was positively associated with body mass index (P = 0.03), blood pressure (P < 0.02), serum triacylglycerol (P < 0.01), fasting glucose (P = 0.01), and energy intake (P < 0.01) and inversely associated with physical activity (P = 0.04), RCBF (P = 0.02), plasma vitamin B-12 (P = 0.09), and dietary fiber (P < 0.01), folate (P = 0.03), and vitamin B-6 (P = 0.09) intakes.


CONCLUSIONS
To control tHcy, decreasing coffee and alcohol consumption may be important in women, whereas increasing physical activity, dietary fiber, and folate intake may be important in men.
Mennen
Louise I
LI
UMR INSERM unit 557/INRA unit 1125, Institut Scientifique et Technique de la Nutrition et de l'Alimentation, ISTNA, Paris, France. s_mennen@vcnam.cnam.fr
de Courcy
Geneviève Potier
GP
Guilland
Jean-Claude
JC
Ducros
Véronique
V
Bertrais
Sandrine
S
Nicolas
Jean-Pierre
JP
Maurel
Michèle
M
Zarebska
Marjorie
M
Favier
Alain
A
Franchisseur
Claire
C
Hercberg
Serge
S
Galan
Pilar
P
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003069:Coffee; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015444:Exercise; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005602:France; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003069:Coffee; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008903:Minerals; D014280:Triglycerides; D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12