Serum folate is associated with coronary heart disease independently of homocysteine in Turkish men.
OBJECTIVE
Whether serum homocysteine levels are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the metabolic syndrome (MS) needs investigation in different ethnic groups. These associations and the influence of serum folate and vitamin B(12) thereupon were addressed separately in genders.


METHODS
A random sample of Turkish adults was studied cross-sectionally.


RESULTS
Median age of 338 men and 342 women was 55 years. Geometric mean serum homocysteine concentrations were 12.7+/-1.5 micromol/l in men and 9.6+/-1.4 micromol/l in women (p<0.001). Linear regression analysis among 11 variables revealed male sex, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and vitamin B(12), (in men) reduced folate as significant independent covariates of higher homocysteine levels. Logistic regression analysis disclosed that (sex-specific) top versus bottom homocysteine tertile was borderline significantly and independently associated with CHD in men and both genders combined, after adjustment for gender, age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, eGFR, folate and vit B(12). Folate revealed significant inverse association with CHD likelihood in men and combined genders (OR 0.73 for doubling [95%CI 0.56; 0.94]), independently of homocysteine levels and even of presence of type-2 diabetes. Serum vit B(12) concentrations were significantly associated with MS likelihood in women alone after adjustment for sex, age, smoking status, folate and antidiabetic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
High serum homocysteine and low folate levels are associated in Turkish men independently with CHD, which needs confirmation in a larger sample. In women, vitamin B(12) concentrations are significantly associated with MS likelihood.
Onat
Altan
A
Turkish Society of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey; Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. alt_onat@yahoo.com.tr
Hergenç
Gülay
G
Küçükdurmaz
Zekeriya
Z
Can
Günay
G
Ayhan
Erkan
E
Bulur
Serkan
S
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12