Showing 3 results for Folic Acid
H Fakhrzadeh, S Ghotbi, R Pour-Ebrahim, M Nouri, R Heshmat, A Shafaee, B Larijani,
Volume 3, Issue 0 (7-2004)
Abstract
Introduction: Elevated plasma total homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a sensitive marker of vitamin B12 and folate insufficiency. Folate and vitamin B12 have a protective effect on cardiovascular disease. This effect may be partly explained by mechanisms independent of homocysteine. This survey is the first population based study to evaluate the plasma total homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 in 1214 healthy Iranian persons.
Methods: This study which was a part of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors Survey in the Population Lab region, has been designed and conducted based on MONICA/WHO project. A total of 1214 people have been recruited and assessed on serum homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 with interview, questionnaires, examination and blood sampling. Blood samples were gathered in Venoject tubes and analyzed according to standard methods.
Results: The variables were assessed in 1214 participants include 428 men (35.3%) and 786 women (64.7%). Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 96.4% in men and 83.3% in women (p<0.0001). Geometric mean of serum homocysteine was 19.02 ± 1.46 µmol/l in men and 14.05± 1.45 µmol/l in women (p<0.004) and increased with age. Folic acid deficiency was seen in 527 (98.9% )men and 833 women (98.0%). 161 (30.1%)men and 232(27.2%) women had vitamin B12 deficiency.
Conclusion: These results revealed that the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency was higher than other communities considerably. Preventive interventions as food fortification with folic acid is necessary.
Hossein Fakhrzadeh, Pantea Ebrahimpour, Rasoul Pourebrahim, Ramin Heshmat, Bagher Larijani,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (8-2004)
Abstract
Background: Homocysteine is regarded as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. It is of great importance to determine exact risk factors of these disorders because of their high prevalence.
Methods: The 25-64 year old individuals in 17th district of Tehran were studied. It was designed according to the WHO MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) project using the ATP III criteria. Homocysteine levels higher than 15 µmol/l and Folate and vitamin B12 lower than 11 nmol/l and 185 pmol/l, respectively were considered as abnormal.
Results: Of the whole population, prevalence of abnormal homocysteine, Folic acid and vitamin B12 was 54.5%, 98.2% and 27%, respectively. Homocysteine levels were higher in men than women (P= 0.026). None of the differences between the means of these three risk factors were statistically significant in people with and without the metabolic syndrome. The only significant difference was higher homocysteine levels in women with metabolic syndrome (P= 0.010).
Conclusions: According to this study, hyperhomocysteinemia and Folate and vitamin B12 deficiency are more prevalent in our population. But there was no correlation between these factors and risk of metabolic syndrome. Because of the controversy about this issue and high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in our country, further studies are suggested.
Hossein Fakhrzadeh, Sara Ghotbi, Bagher Larijani,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (9-2007)
Abstract
High plasma homocysteine is identified as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that increased plasma homocysteine is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Homocysteine may have an effect on atherosclerosis by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots .Folic acid and other B group vitamins help break down homocysteine in the body and folate fortification of foods reduces the average homocysteine level in the population. Low blood levels of folate are also linked with a higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease and stroke. Homocysteine levels are strongly influenced via diet, as well as via genetic factors. Many common genetic disorders and problems (such as vitamin deficiency) adversely affect the metabolism of homocysteine. Common causes of a high homocysteine level include dietary deficiency of folate and B group vitamins, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, psoriasis, and some medicines. Clinical trials to date have not provided consistent evidence that lowering homocysteine levels reduce strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular events notwithstanding it is recommended to lower a high homocysteine level because it is a risk factor for heart disease. Homocysteine abnormalities also contribute to birth defects and dementia and folic acid supplementation in the pre-conceptual period is effective in preventing recurrent and primary neural tube defects.
