Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial dysfunction in renal transplant recipients with B vitamins in the Chinese population.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the efficacy of B vitamins as a treatment for hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial dysfunction in renal transplant recipients in the Chinese population.


METHODS
A total of 36 stable renal transplant recipients with hyperhomocysteinemia were randomly assigned to folate treatment (5 mg folic acid per day, 50 mg vitamin B6 per day and 1,000 microg vitamin B12 per day) or to the control group (placebo only) for 6 months. All subjects underwent tests for creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, average blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting homocysteine. Endothelial function was evaluated using high resolution vascular ultrasound.


RESULTS
Homocysteine significantly decreased in those with folate treatment after intervention compared with baseline (12.6 +/- 3.9 vs 20.1 +/- 5.4 micromol/l, t = 5.3, p <0.01), whereas no significant changes were observed in controls. In the folate treatment group endothelium dependent and independent vasodilatation responses significantly increased after intervention (12.2% +/- 4.6% vs 8.8% +/- 5.2%, t = 2.9, p <0.01 and 17.6% +/- 3.9% vs 12.2% +/- 4.7%, t = 3.4, p <0.01, respectively). However, no significant changes were observed in controls. Endothelium dependent and independent vasodilatation responses were significantly lower in controls compared to levels in the folate group after treatment (8.7% +/- 6.3%, t = 2.8, p <0.01 and 12.2% +/- 5.3%, t = 3.5, p <0.01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these data B vitamin supplementation may decrease blood homocysteine and improve endothelial function in renal transplant recipients with hyperhomocysteinemia.
Xu
Tao
T
Department of Urology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Xiao-wei
XW
Qu
Xing-ke
XK
Ye
Hai-yun
HY
Huang
Xiao-bo
XB
Zhang
Xiao-peng
XP
Hou
Shu-kun
SK
Wang
Xiao-feng
XF
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12