title: No effect of folic acid supplementation in the course of 1 year on haemostasis markers and C-reactive protein in older adults.
abstract: Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. High homocysteine might affect the endothelium, and consequently lead to impaired haemostasis. In a randomized placebo controlled trial among 276 older adults with plasma total homocysteine concentrations above 13 mM at screening, we investigated the effect of homocysteine lowering by folic acid supplementation (0.8 mg/day) for 1 year on markers of endothelial function (von Willebrand factor), coagulation (tissue factor, factor VIIa, fragments 1+2), and fibrinolysis (fibrin degradation products, tissue-type plasminogen activator), and inflammation (C-reactive protein). Despite a 24% reduction in plasma homocysteine concentration and four-fold increase in serum folate concentration in the folic acid group compared to the placebo group, there was no clear change in any of the haemostasis markers, nor CRP. Although homocysteine is associated with vascular disease risk in the general population, marked lowering of slightly elevated homocysteine concentrations by one-year folic acid supplementation does not influence haemostasis markers.
authors.affiliation: Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, c/o Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mariska
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klerk
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durga
authors.forename: Evert G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kluft
authors.forename: Frans J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verhoef
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015942:Factor VIIa / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006487:Hemostasis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D012306:Risk; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D006710:Homocysteine; D005337:Fibrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013925:Thromboplastin; D005492:Folic Acid; D015942:Factor VIIa