title: Plasma homocysteine and B vitamins levels in Nigerian children with nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Available data on plasma homocysteine level in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are controversial with increased, decreased and unchanged values reported. Therefore, plasma homocysteine and serum B vitamins in Nigerian children with NS were assessed in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting blood samples were analysed for plasma homocysteine, serum folate and B vitamins in 42 children with NS and 42 age and sex-matched healthy controls in this case control study. Data were compared between NS and control using t test and Chi square. Relationships were tested with regression analysis with p set at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia, low folate and cyanocobalamin in NS was 57.1%, 14.3% and 9.5% respectively. The mean homocysteine level was significantly higher in NS than control (11.3±2.6 µmol/L versus 5.5±2.3 µmol/L). Also, NS had lower folate and cyanocobalamin than control: 9.1±3.9 ng/mL versus 11.2±3.1 ng/dL and 268.5±95.7 pg/mL versus 316±117.2 pg/mL respectively. Weak but significant correlation between homocysteine and serum albumin (r = 0.347), folate (r = -0.607) and vitamin B12 (r = -0.185) were found in the NS group. Significant relationship was also found between homocysteine and vitamin B12 (ß = -0.64, 95% CI = -1.20, -0.08) after controlling for folate and vitamin B6 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically important hyperhomocysteinaemia and low B vitamins occur in Nigerian children with nephrotic syndrome. This data suggest that potential usefulness of folate and vitamin B supplementation for reducing high homocysteine levels in nephrotic syndrome need to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bose Etaniamhe
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Orimadegun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adebola Emmanuel
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Orimadegun
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adebowale Dele
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ademola
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Oluyemi
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Agbedana
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D009549:Nigeria; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Nephrotic syndrome; cardiovascular risk; children; folate; homocysteine; vitamins