title: Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia and some of its major determinants in Shaanxi Province, China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHCY; total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration >15 μmol/l) and its major determinants in healthy Chinese northerners. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in Shaanxi Province, China. The study sample included 2645 participants (1042 men and 1603 women) aged >20 years. Demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors were assessed via questionnaire interviews and physical examination. Plasma levels of homocysteine and folate and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism were determined according to standard methods. The prevalence of HHCY was 67·7 % (81·4 % in men and 58·8 % in women). The geometric mean of tHcy concentration was 19·1 μmol/l. The OR of HHCY were 0·44 (95 % CI 0·34, 0·57) for women v. men; 1·95 (95 % CI 1·41, 2·70), 1·41 (95 % CI 1·05, 1·88) and 0·76 (95 % CI 0·64, 0·89) for participants with smoking and alcohol drinking cessation and improved physical activity levels, respectively; 0·25 (95 % CI 0·17, 0·38), 0·33 (95 % CI 0·22, 0·49) and 0·56 (95 % CI 0·36, 0·88) for participants with an education level of elementary school, secondary school and university v. illiterate, respectively; 1·41 (95 % CI 1·13, 1·75) and 3·05 (95 % CI 2·35, 3·97) for participants with CT and TT v. CC genotype at MTHFR 677C → T polymorphism, respectively. These results demonstrate that the prevalence of HHCY is considerably high in Chinese northerners, especially in TT subjects, suggesting that implementation of tHcy-lowering strategies, such as lifestyle changes, is necessary.
authors: Department of Neurology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Xue-Dong
authors: XD
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Endocrinology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Neurology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Neurology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Xi'an,Shaanxi,People's Republic of China.
authors: Yue-Yun
authors: YY
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Neurology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Zhi-Rong
authors: ZR
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Epidemiology,School of Military Preventive Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University,Xi'an,Shaanxi,People's Republic of China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Nephrology, Southern Medical University,Guangzhou,Guangdong,People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiping
authors: X
authors: Xu
authors: Institute of Nephrology, Southern Medical University,Guangzhou,Guangdong,People's Republic of China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Endocrinology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Qiu-He
authors: QH
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Neurology,Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University,Changle Xi Road 17,Xi'an710032,Shaanxi Province,People's Republic of China.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
keywords: Chinese northerners