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.
Koutoubi
Samer
S
Nutrition Department, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington 98028, USA. skoutoub@bastyr.edu
Huffman
Fatma G
FG
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