title: Folic acid supplementation reduces plasma homocysteine in postmenopausal women.
abstract: Plasma homocysteine, which is increased after menopause, can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of folic acid supplementation on plasma homocysteine in postmenopausal women. The study was performed as a randomized placebo controlled trial on 48 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 50-70 years) and plasma homocysteine of all women was measured. In the case group, folic acid, and in the control group, placebo was prescribed. The second plasma homocysteine was measured 16-17 weeks later and was compared in the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups according to age, BMI, parity, duration of menopause and the first plasma homocysteine level. Plasma homocysteine level was significantly lower in the case group than control group 16 weeks after folic acid administration (10.33 ± 3.51 μmol/l vs 13.21 ± 3.11 μmol/l, p=0.004). There was no significant correlation between plasma homocysteine level and BMI and parity. However, there was a weak-moderate positive correlation between plasma homocysteine and age (p<0.05, r=0.33), and there was a significant but weak correlation between plasma homocysteine and duration of menopause (p=0.05, r=0.28).
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Iran University of Medical Sciences, Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital , Tehran , Iran .
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almassinokiani
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Iran University of Medical Sciences, Akbarabadi Teaching Hospital , Tehran , Iran , and.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashanian
authors.affiliation: c Student of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Iran University of Medical Sciences, Akbarabadi Teaching Hospital , Tehran , Iran , and.
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mossayebi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Iran University of Medical Sciences, Akbarabadi Teaching Hospital , Tehran , Iran , and.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sadeghian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Folic acid; homocysteine; menopause; postmenopausal women