Serum total homocysteine levels, folate, and B-vitamins intake and coronary heart disease risk factors among tri-ethnic college students.
The main objective of our study was to determine and compare total serum homocysteine (tHcy) levels among tri-ethnic college students. The 180 tri-ethnic subjects completed Cardiovascular Risk Assessment questionnaires, and gave 15 mL fasting blood for serum tHcy and blood lipid analysis. The mean tHcy (+/- SD) of the all subjects was 6.33 +/- 3.15 micromol/L. Male subjects had significantly (P=.001) higher serum tHcy levels compared with female subjects. Black non-Hispanic females and Hispanic females showed significantly (P=.003) lower tHcy levels than White non-Hispanic females. Moderate elevations of tHcy levels were strongly related to cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, behavioral style, high blood pressure, and low intakes of folate, and vitamins B6 and B12. A positive association of tHcy levels with cardiovascular heart disease (CHD) risk point standards was observed in females (P=.001), Hispanic (P=.001), Hispanic males (P=.049), Hispanic females (P=.009), and Black non-Hispanic females (P=.005). We observed gender and ethnic differences in tHcy levels of this young population with normal tHcy levels. Abnormally high tHcy concentrations appear to be acquired later in life.
Nutrition Department, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington 98028, USA. skoutoub@bastyr.edu
Samer
S
Koutoubi
Fatma G
FG
Huffman
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D014495:Universities; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000097:blood*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12