Homocysteine is a marker for metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
It has been documented that patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and vascular complications have higher homocysteine levels. Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with IR, increasing oxidative stress, which causes lesions of vascular endothelium leading to endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and atherosclerosis.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the study were to examine homocysteine values, along with cardiovascular risk factors (lipid and apolipoprotein status, CRP, blood pressure), indicators of renal function (microalbuminuria/24h), glucose regulation and insulin resistance (glucose and insulin level, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, uric acid) and anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, HC, WHR) in patients with and without MS as a correlation between homocysteine and MS factors.


METHODS
The study included obese and overweight individuals, aged of 30-75 yrs. classified into two groups: with MS (n=35) and without MS (n=41).


RESULTS
Patients with MS had increased WC, BMI, BP, glycaemia, HOMA-IR, TG, CRP, microalbuminuria, homocysteine and decreased HDL-C (p<0.05). Statistically significant difference between groups was found for WC, BMI, sBP and dBP, TG, HDL-C (p<0.01) and glycaemia, CRP, Apo B, HOMA-IR (p<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between homocysteine and sBP (p=0.036), dBP (p=0.04), Apo B (p=0.038) and hyperlipoproteinemia (type IIa, type IIb and type IV) (p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with MS had increased abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, inflammation factors, IR, homocysteine and microalbuminuria as markers of endothelial dysfunction. A correlation between homocysteine and hypertension and hyperlipoproteinemia showed that homocysteine could be used as a potential marker for atherosclerosis progression.
Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Center of Bezanijska kosa, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: b.sreckovic65@gmail.com.
Branko
B
Sreckovic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
Vesna Dimitrijevic
VD
Sreckovic
Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
Ivan
I
Soldatovic
Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Emina
E
Colak
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
Mirjana
M
Sumarac-Dumanovic
University Children's Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia.
Hristina
H
Janeski
Clinical Center Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nenad
N
Janeski
Department of Surgery, Clinical Center of Bezanijska kosa, Belgrade, Serbia.
Jasna
J
Gacic
Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
Igor
I
Mrdovic
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006710:Homocysteine
Atherosclerosis; Homocysteine; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity