title: Elevated plasma homocysteine in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic individuals independent of conventional risk factors. Available study in Nigerian-Africans is scare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy (30 males) and (40 females) type 2 diabetes mellitus, with age mean of 54 ± 11.52 years were selected for this study and thirty apparently healthy volunteers were included as controls. The biochemical parameters and anthropometric indices were determined using standard procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increases were obtained in body weight, body mass index (p<0.001) and waist circumference (p<0.012) when compared with the corresponding control values respectively. The fasting plasma glucose (p<0.01), tHcy (p<0.02), and triglyceride (p<0.03) were significantly higher in the diabetes group when compared with the corresponding control values. The plasma folic acid and vitamin B(12) (p<0.05) were significantly reduced compared to the control values. The tHcy (p<0.01) was significantly higher in the males when compared with the corresponding female value. Significant decrease was obtained in the plasma triglyceride (p<0.003) in the male patients when compared with the female patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our result showed increased plasma tHcy, triglyceride and waist circumference as well as decreased folic acid and vitamin B(12) in type 2 diabetes mellitus. These alterations are risk factors for premature CVD events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences Olabisi Onabanjo University Sagamu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Maria Onomhaguan
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ebesunun
authors.forename: Esther Odunayo
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Obajobi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine