Thiol and cardiovascular risk factor status in a male northern Irish population.
OBJECTIVE
Raised plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cysteine has also been associated with CVD risk. In this study, we investigated the association between known CVD risk factors, dietary factors, and total plasma cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine, and homocysteine.


METHODS
The study group was 765 male workers aged between 30-49 years. The dietary habits of the subjects were recorded using a food frequency questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and blood pressure were assessed, and fasting blood samples were taken for analysis of serum concentrations of vitamins, lipids, total plasma cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine, and homocysteine, and genotyping for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism.


RESULTS
In multivariable analyses, cysteine was significantly positively associated with age and negatively associated with serum vitamin B12 and serum vitamin B6, while cysteinyl-glycine was significantly positively associated with BMI. Homocysteine (tHcy) was significantly negatively associated with serum folate, serum vitamin B12, and fruit and vegetable intake, and also depended on the MTHFR 677C>T genotype.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show a significant relationship between age, serum levels of B-vitamins and cysteine, and BMI and cysteinyl-glycine. In agreement with other studies, we also confirm an association between tHcy, serum folate and vitamin B12, MTHFR genotype, and fruit and vegetable intake. Further investigation into the role of these thiols and their determinants in CVD is required.
Edgar
Kevin S
KS
Centre for Clinical and Population Science, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Nothern Ireland.
Woodside
Jayne V
JV
Skidmore
Paula
P
Cardwell
Christopher
C
Farelll
Kathryn
K
McKinley
Michelle C
MC
Young
Ian S
IS
Whitehead
Alexander S
AS
Gey
K Fred
KF
Yarnell
John W G
JW
Evans
Alun
A