title: Effect of methionine loading on pulse wave analysis in elderly volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that an acute increase in plasma homocysteine produced by methionine is associated with an acute increase in pulse wave velocity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double blind, cross over, placebo controlled design was used and pulse wave velocity, plasma homocysteine, total cholesterol: high density lipoprotein ratio, plasma triglyceride, oxidised low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, apolipoproteins A1 and B, and C reactive protein were measured between 12.5 and 20 hours after methionine loading or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 12.5 and 20 hours after exposure to a methionine loading test, arterial pulse wave velocity showed no significant difference compared with placebo. At 12 hours after exposure to the methionine loading test, in the presence of a controlled diet, triglyceride concentration significantly increased by 32.6% (p<0.02), cholesterol: high density lipoprotein ratio increased significantly by 22.5% (p<0.05) compared with placebo. Simultaneously, systolic blood pressure increased significantly by 4.9% (p<0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In elderly volunteers, acute hyperhomocysteinaemia induced by methionine loading resulted in no overall significant delayed reduction in peripheral arterial distensibility. A significant deterioration in the lipid profile and increased blood pressure was seen during acute hyperhomocysteinaemia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. sh@skull.dcn.ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mangoni
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: S H D
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003187:Compliance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008715:Methionine