Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia is higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients than the general population. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of high-dose folic acid supplementation with and without vitamin B12 on lowering plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in HD patients.

Methods: Thirty-six HD patients at Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran, who had been given folic acid supplements (5 mg/d) for at least 3 months before, were enrolled in this clinical trial. Subjects were also checked for other inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects were divided randomly into four groups and underwent two months of supplementation as follows: 5 mg/d oral folic acid + placebo in group one, 5 mg/d oral folic acid + vitamin B12 (1 mg/d orally) in group two, 15 mg/d oral folic acid + placebo in group three and 15 mg/d oral folic acid + vitamin B12 (1 mg/d orally) in group four. Concentrations of plasma tHcy and serum folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured at baseline and after the supplementation period. Dietary intake of patients was also determined during the supplementation period.

Results: Of the folic acid supplemented patients, 27.8% had normal levels of tHcy at baseline and 72.2% had hyperhomocysteinemia. After the supplementation period, plasma tHcy increased by 1.35% in group one and decreased by 6.99%, 14.54% and 30.09% in groups two, three and four respectively. Changes in plasma tHcy and serum vitamin B12 were only significant in group four however, no significant changes were seen for serum folic acid. The percentage of subjects reaching normal levels of plasma tHcy was 5.6 fold higher in group four than in the reference group.

Conclusions: Supplementation with 15 mg/d folic acid together with 1 mg/d oral vitamin B12 is more effective in reducing tHcy levels in HD patients.

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Background: Neural Tube Defect (NTD) characterized by failure of neural tube to close properly be the second most common born defect after congenital heart disease. The most prevalent forms of NTD are Anencephaly and Spinal-bifida. Many factors are involved in this anomaly. New researches suggest environmental factors like radiation, hyperthermia, Vitamin A and acid folic deficiency, anti epileptic drug like Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, phenytoin, Folic acid antagonist like Sulfasalazine, Triametherine and systemic disease like diabet mellitus, obesity, genetic factors, the most schance 40 to 70 percentages.
Methods: In this survey cross sectional study was conducted in five hospitals depend to Tehran university during three years. Study subject identified through review of admission and discharge at major hospital through regular contact with newborn nurseries and birth hospital.
Results: In 38473 reported cases, 143 cases have neural tube defect. Among NTD cases, 11.9% of mothers had medical diseases in their previous history such as diabetes mellitus, epilepsy-psychiatric, and disorder-heart diseases. In this study group, 5.6% have preclampsia during pregnancy period. The most common NTD anomaly in this study was anencephaly and meningomyelocele that was different from studies in literature.
Conclusion: NTD result from failure of neural tube close threats fetus health up to 28 days after conception. When is often prior to the recognition of pregnancy since many pregnancy are unplanned NTD prevention is best achieve by adequate daily folic acid intake thought of reproductive ages .educational effort to promote daily intake of folic acid supplemental by women of reproductive age and NTD risk factor should be done. Early diagnostic procedure for high risk pregnancy advised.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Increased total plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is an accepted risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, preclampsia, recurrent abortion and diabetes type I and II. The aim of the current study was to assess serum homocysteine and its relation with serum folat, vitamine B12 and lipid profile in gestational diabetes mellitus and to compare these with those of pregnant women.
Methods: In a prospective controlled survey 80 pregnant women (24-28 weeks) with uncomplicated pregnancies were evaluated. They were assigned to one of two groups according to the results of 100g-OGTT. In the case group there were pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus according to the OGTT and in the control group women who had normal OGTT results were put. Levels of fasting glucose, homocysteine, vit B12, and folic acid, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were measured in both groups.
Results:  The mean level of homocysteine in GDM group was significantly higher than control group (p=0.000). The mean level of folic acid and vit B12 was significantly lower than the level in control group (p=0.001, p=0.004 respectively). Body mass index (BMI) in GDM group was higher (p=0.000) and HDL level was lower (p=0.006) than control group. There were no significant differences among the groups with respect to levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.
Conclusion: We found that patients with gestational diabetes have higher homocysteine level than normal pregnant women. This increased level seems to be related to an abnormal OGTT. Further investigations are needed to follow up these patients in the postpartum period and later on.

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Background: Red Blood Cell's (RBC)’s folate may be related to decreased risk of colorectal adenoma. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key regulatory enzyme in folate metabolism. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is located in the Exon 4 region and is associated with the change of folate level. This study evaluated the associations between RBC’s Folate levels and colorectal adenoma risk, taking into account whether this associations is modified by MTHFR Polymorphism. Methods: In a case-control study conducted from January to October 2007 in Endoscopy-Colonoscopy ward of Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz. Participants were 177 case of colorectal adenoma who had pathologic-confirmed adenomatous polyps in full colonoscopy examination and 366 controls without polyps in full colonoscopy. Fasting venous blood were drawn from patients in order to determine RBC’s folate and to identify the MTHFR polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Results: Gender Distribution in the patient group were 57.6% male and 42.3% female and control group consisted of 55.1% male and 43.9% female. 50.2% of cases and 49.2% of controls were in the age group “45 years and above”. The T allele frequency was 56.6% in control group and 34.4% in colorectal adenoma patients. There was a significant association between T allele in -677 position of MTHFR gene and colorectal adenoma susceptibility (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 0.76-4.24, P<0.001). Mean concentration of RBC’s folate was not statistically significant among three groups with TT genotype (mutation homozygote), CT genotype (heterozygote), and CC genotype (wild-type homozygote) (P>0.05) but mean concentration of RBC’s folate was the lowest in TT genotype compare with two other genotype. Odd's Ratio for low (<140ng/ml) versus high level of RBC’s folate in participants with TT genotype was (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 0.10-2.19, P<0.05) as compare with the CC ones. Conclusion: The result of this study suggested an inverse association between RBC's folate concentration and colorectal adenomas risk, which may be more relevant for those with the MTHFR TT genotype.

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