Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 111–118. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602490; published online 2 August 2006

Nutritional determinants of plasma total homocysteine distribution in the Canary Islands

Guarantor: L Serra-Majem.

Contributors: PHS is responsible for the study concept and design. RDP is responsible for homocysteine determinations. PHS, JDA and MDFP are responsible for statistical analysis. PHS and JDA are responsible for the acquisition of data and drafted the manuscript, which was critically revised by all other authors, contributing to the final version.

P Henríquez1, J Doreste1, R Deulofeu2, M D Fiuza3 and L Serra-Majem1

  1. 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
  2. 2Clinical Biochemistry Service, University of Barcelona's Clinical Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
  3. 3Dr Negrín Hospital Research Unit, Canarian Health Service, Canary Islands, Spain

Correspondence: Dr P Henríquez Sánchez, Department of Nursing Sciences, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Palmas G/C, Apdo. Correos 550, 35080 Las Palmas G/C, Spain. E-mail: phenriquez@denf.ulpgc.es

Received 11 April 2006; Revised 27 April 2006; Accepted 8 June 2006; Published online 2 August 2006.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

We sought to define plasma homocysteine reference values in healthy individuals in the Canary Islands and to determine its relations to folate and vitamin B12 intakes and concentrations.

Design:

 

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

 

Population-based representative sample of 557 participants, aged 18–65 years, from the Canary Islands Nutrition Survey (ENCA).

Subjects:

 

All participants completed two 24-h dietary recalls and a general questionnaire collecting socio-demographic and health-related lifestyle information.

Interventions:

 

Plasma homocysteine and serum vitamin B12 levels were measured by immunoassay, whereas folate levels through an automated ionic capturing method.

Results:

 

Median plasma homocysteine was 11.9 mumol/l, higher in men (13.1 mumol/l) than in women (10.9 mumol/l) (P<0.001) and positively associated with age in both sexes (P<0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (greater than or equal to15 mumol/l), 21.4%, was also greater in men (32.2%) than in women (13.4%). There were significant negative correlations between plasma homocysteine and serum (r=-0.32, P<0.001) and erythrocyte (r=-0.26, P<0.001) folate, as well as serum vitamin B12 (r=-0.28, P<0.001) concentrations. When divided in quartiles of vitamin intakes or concentrations, men with the lowest vitamin B12 and folate serum values had significantly higher plasma homocysteine concentrations than those in the other three quartiles. In women, hyperhomocysteinaemia was higher in the lowest quartiles of folate intake and serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations.

Conclusions:

 

These data provide further evidence that hyperhomocysteinaemia is a sensitive marker of inadequate folate and vitamin B12 status, allowing for the identification of those with greatest need for nutritional interventions.

Keywords:

homocysteine, reference ranges, folate, vitamin B12

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