title: Lack of association of homocysteine concentrations with oxidative stress, alterations in carotid intima media thickness and endothelial reactivity in prepubertal children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to assess the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (alterations in the lipid profile, fasting glycaemia, high arterial pressure values, oxidative stress, increased intima media thickness and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation) in prepubertal children with elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 35 children with Hcy levels ≥7.3 μmol/l were matched by gender and age with 29 children with Hcy levels ≤4.1 μmol/l. Our collected data included weight, height, waist circumference, systemic arterial pressure, lipid profile, fasting glycaemia and oxidative stress markers. A Doppler ultrasound was performed to measure the carotid intima media thickness and the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the lipid profile and fasting glycaemia, blood pressure or oxidative stress. Overweight and obesity (body mass index z-score > +1) were more frequent in the group with Hcy ≥7.3 μmol/l when compared to the group with Hcy ≤4.1 μmol/l [13/35 (37.1%) vs. 4/29 (13.8%); p = 0.035]. After adjusting for nutritional status, there were no differences in the intima media thickness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation between children with high and low Hcy levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the cardiovascular risk factors investigated in the present study, which was based on prepubertal children, only overweight and obesity were associated with increased Hcy concentrations (≥7.3 μmol/l).
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabíola Isabel
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Suano de Souza
authors.forename: Vânia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Almeida
authors.forename: Fernando Luiz Affonso
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hix
authors.forename: Robson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomes de Torres Rossi
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Roseli Oselka
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Saccardo Sarni
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D014664:Vasodilation; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine