title: Decrease of carotid intima-media thickness in patients at risk to cerebral ischemia after supplementation with folic acid, Vitamins B6 and B12.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with atherosclerotic risk. Although vitamins can lower homocysteine (Hcy), information about effects on atherosclerosis is scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as an accepted marker of atherosclerotic changes. Fifty patients (60 +/- 8 years) with IMT> or =1 mm were included. In a double blind, randomized trial they received daily 2.5 mg folic acid, 25 mg Vitamin B6, and 0.5mg Vitamin B12 or placebo for 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treatment group, Hcy decreased from 10.50 +/- 3.93 to 6.56 +/- 1.53 micromol/l (P < 0.0001), whereas it remained unchanged in the placebo group (10.76 +/- 2.36 versus 10.45+/-3.30 micromol/l). IMT decreased from 1.50 +/- 0.44 to 1.42 +/- 0.48 mm (P = 0.034) in the treatment group, whereas it increased from 1.47 +/- 0.57 to 1.54 +/- 0.71 mm in the placebo group. The mean individual changes of IMT between both groups differed significantly (-0.08 +/- 0.17 versus 0.07 +/- 0.25 mm, P = 0.019). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the observed effect on IMT depended only on medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin supplementation significantly reduces IMT in patients at risk. This effect is independent of Hcy concentration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathobiochemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Postfach, Jena, Germany. till@mti.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Till
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Röhl
authors.forename: Almut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jentsch
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Till
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bellstedt
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plonné
authors.forename: Horst S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vollandt
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sliwka
authors.forename: Falko H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riezler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12