title: A proinflammatory state is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanism by which high circulating homocysteine concentrations are a risk factor for atherothrombosis is incompletely understood. A proinflammatory state is related to atherosclerosis, and recent studies suggest that acute phase reactants correlate with circulating concentrations of homocysteine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We determined whether high concentrations of inflammatory markers are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia independently of dietary vitamin intakes, vitamin concentrations, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a large, representative sample of the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred eighty-six men and 734 women were randomly selected from the inhabitants of 2 small towns near Florence, Italy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with plasma homocysteine concentrations in older (>65 y) populations. Compared with participants in the lowest IL-6 tertile, those in the highest tertile had a higher risk of having homocysteine concentrations that were high (>30 micromol/L; odds ratio: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.6; P = 0.024) or in the intermediate range 15-30 micromol/L (odds ratio: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.2; P = 0.0014). Sedentary state, intakes of vitamin B-6 and folic acid, and serum folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significant independent correlates of homocysteine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High circulating concentrations of IL-1ra and IL-6 are independent correlates of hyperhomocysteinemia and may explain, at least in part, the association between homocysteine and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Area, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. am.gori@dac.unifi.it
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fedi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sofi
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartali
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandinelli
authors.forename: Gian Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gensini
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein