Elevated plasma homocysteine in obese schoolchildren with early atherosclerosis.
Elevated plasma homocysteine is widely seen as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease in adults. In order to investigate the role of homocysteine in a paediatric population at risk for early atheroclerosis, we studied plasma homocysteine in obese schoolchildren and non-obese peers. Plasma homocysteine, serum vitamin B12 and serum folic acid were determined in 41 obese and 27 control subjects and related to carotid intima-media thickness and flow-mediated dilatation measured on high-resolution ultrasonography. Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid were all significantly elevated in obese children. In girls, plasma homocysteine correlated significantly with body mass index (r=0.56, p=0.002), increased ICA intima-media thickness (r=0.39, p=0.035) and flow-mediated dilatation (r=-0.40, p=0.031). In boys, none of these associations reached significance (all p>0.234). No independent association of homocysteine with IMT and FMD was seen after adjustment for BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma homocysteine is elevated in obese schoolchildren with hypertension and dyslipidaemia, particularly in girls. This may indicate a high-risk constellation, so that plasma homocysteine should be monitored in these children.
Zhu
Weihua
W
Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China.
Huang
Xianmei
X
Li
Mengxia
M
Neubauer
Henning
H
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12