title: Raised plasma homocysteine levels in alcoholism: increasing the risk of heart disease and dementia?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Raised plasma homocysteine levels, which may contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia associated with alcoholism, have been observed in alcohol-dependent male subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we measured plasma homocysteine levels in 20 female and 31 male alcoholic subjects admitted to hospital for detoxification. Nutritional status and clinical factors that might predict plasma homocysteine levels were assessed by measurement of red cell folate, vitamin B12, blood alcohol, and liver function tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (interquartile range) plasma homocysteine level on admission was 15.4 micromol/L (11.1 to 19.7), with 27 (53%) subjects having a raised homocysteine level, greater than 15 micromol/L. There was no difference in admission plasma homocysteine levels between the male and female subjects (difference, male versus female 1.9 micromol/L, 95% CI=2.4 to 6.0, p=0.4). Red cell folate, vitamin B12 levels, and blood alcohol level on admission were not significant predictors of admission homocysteine level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe alcohol dependence is associated with markedly raised plasma homocysteine levels in both females and males. The common condition of alcohol dependence may be an under-recognised risk factor contributing to raised plasma homocysteine levels and the associated risk of vascular and intellectual impairment.
authors.affiliation: Kenepuru Hospital, Porirua. denise.fabian@mrinz.ac.nz
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Seshasayee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narasimhan
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine