Hyperhomocysteinemia and vitamin score: correlations with silent brain ischemic lesions and brain atrophy.
Elevated fasting plasma total homocysteine concentration (tHcy) and lower vitamin status are associated with atherosclerotic states. Silent brain ischemic lesions and brain atrophy, prevailing in the elderly, are affected by tHcy and vitamin status. The study was performed on 56 outpatients who had undergone brain computed tomography (CT) before the onset of the study. According to brain CT evaluation, three groups were set: minor brain ischemia, brain atrophy and control. Brain CT, tHcy, plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), vitamin B(12), folic acid and cognitive and functional capacities were measured or evaluated in all of the subjects. Plasma vitamin score for three vitamins was calculated. In subjects with minor brain ischemic lesions (n = 21), tHcy was higher by 5.6 microM, whereas vitamin score and cognitive function were lower than in controls (n = 24). In subjects with brain atrophy (n = 11), plasma PLP and cognitive function were lower. Particular attention should be paid to tHcy monitoring, vitamin status assessment and brain impairment evaluation.
Polyak
Zeev
Z
Department of Geriatrics, Kaplan Medical Center, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
Stern
Felicia
F
Berner
Yitshal N
YN
Sela
Ben-Ami
BA
Gomori
John M
JM
Isayev
Marina
M
Doolman
Ram
R
Levy
Shmuel
S
Dror
Yosef
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*
D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12