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Reduction in plasma total homocysteine through increasing folate intake in healthy individuals is not associated with changes in measures of antioxidant activity or oxidant damage

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 483–489 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and risk of cardiovascular disease, including oxidative activity of homocysteine.

Objective: To explore the putative role of reactive oxygen species in the association between plasma tHcy and risk of cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals.

Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover intervention to increase folate intake through diet (increased consumption of folate-rich foods) and supplement (400 µg folic acid) was carried out in 126 healthy men and women. Measurements were made of antioxidant activity in red blood cells and plasma, and products of oxidant damage in plasma.

Results: Diet and supplement-based interventions led to an increase in measures of folate status and a reduction in plasma tHcy. This was not associated with any significant change in measures of antioxidant activity (plasma and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase activity and red blood cell superoxide dismutase activity) or oxidant damage (plasma malondialdehyde), although an improvement in plasma total antioxidant capacity just failed to reach significance.

Conclusions: In healthy individuals lowering plasma tHcy does not have any functional implications regarding oxidative damage.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a project grant from the Food Standards Agency of the UK (ANO506 and N05006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield, The Northern General Hospital, UK

    S J Moat, M H Hill & H J Powers

  2. Cardiovascular Sciences Research Group, Wales Heart Research Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, UK

    S J Moat, I F W McDowell, C H Pullin, P A L Ashfield-Watt, Z E Clark, J M Whiting & M J Lewis

  3. Department of Computing and Medical Statistics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, UK

    R G Newcombe

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  1. S J Moat
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Correspondence to H J Powers.

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Moat, S., Hill, M., McDowell, I. et al. Reduction in plasma total homocysteine through increasing folate intake in healthy individuals is not associated with changes in measures of antioxidant activity or oxidant damage. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 483–489 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601554

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