Association of homocysteinaemia with hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and obesity.
OBJECTIVE
Hyperhomocysteinaemia and the metabolic syndrome are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We investigated whether there is a link between the metabolic syndrome or its components and homocysteine levels in a population without cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
From the population sample of 382 participants (286 females and 96 males) we isolated those reflecting the metabolic syndrome and determined their homocysteine levels. We then evaluated the association of homocysteine with hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and obesity, using a significance level of p = 0.05. Enzymatic methods were used for all biochemical parameters.


RESULTS
We found the statistical relationship between homocysteine and the metabolic syndrome as follows: hyperglycaemia (p = 0.175), hypertriglyceridaemia (p = 0.442), hypercholesterolaemia (p = 0.480), obesity (p = 0.080); and hypertension: systolic pressure (p = 0.002) and diastolic pressure (p = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
We found no statistically significant association between baseline plasma homocysteine levels and the metabolic syndrome, except for hypertension.
Department of Medical Science, Health Public and Health Promotion, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Sovenga, South Africa.
Dudu
D
Sengwayo
Mpho
M
Moraba
Shirley
S
Motaung
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine