title: The Effects of Folate Supplementation on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Metabolic Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.
abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of folate supplementation on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and metabolic status among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  
  
  
  This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. They were all overweight in the age range 40-85 years. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 30) received 5 mg folate supplements and group B (n = 30) received placebo for 12 weeks.
  
  
  
  Folate supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in maximum levels of left CIMT (-0.05 ± 0.13 vs. +0.02 ± 0.11 mm, p = 0.01) compared with the placebo. Changes in fasting plasma glucose (-2.2 ± 37.5 vs. +30.2 ± 65.8 mg/dl, p = 0.02), serum insulin concentration (-2.0 ± 10.7 vs. +3.0 ± 7.6 µIU/ml, p = 0.04) and homeostasis of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (-0.6 ± 2.3 vs. +0.9 ± 2.3, p = 0.01) in supplemented patients were significantly different from those of patients in the placebo group. Changes in serum triglycerides (p = 0.04), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p = 0.001), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.01) and plasma nitric oxide concentrations (p < 0.001) were significantly different between the supplemented patients and placebo group.
  
  
  
  Overall, 5 mg/day folate supplementation for 12 weeks among patients with MetS had beneficial effects on CIMT and the metabolic status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Talari
authors.forename: Motahereh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafiee
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farrokhian
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raygan
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahmani
authors.forename: Manijeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darooghegi Mofrad
authors.forename: Yaser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamidian
authors.forename: Omid Reza
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Tamtaji
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karamali
authors.forename: Zatollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D005492:Folic Acid