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Nutritional determinants of plasma total homocysteine distribution in the Canary Islands

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 111–118 (2007)Cite this article

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 μmol/l, higher in men (13.1 μmol/l) than in women (10.9 μmol/l) (P<0.001) and positively associated with age in both sexes (P<0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (⩾15 μmol/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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the Research and Health Funding Agency of the Canary Islands Government (FUNCIS, Grant No. 10/00). The Canary Islands Nutrition Survey (ENCA 1997–1998) was supported by the Canarian Health Service. We also thank David Shea, lecturer, Department of Modern Languages, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, for his assistance with the English version of this paper, and Lourdes Ribas Barba, Lluis Jover Armengol and Eva-Elisa Álvarez León for their comments. We have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

    P Henríquez, J Doreste & L Serra-Majem

  2. Clinical Biochemistry Service, University of Barcelona's Clinical Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    R Deulofeu

  3. Dr Negrín Hospital Research Unit, Canarian Health Service, Canary Islands, Spain

    M D Fiuza

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  1. P Henríquez
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Correspondence to P Henríquez.

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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.

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Henríquez, P., Doreste, J., Deulofeu, R. et al. Nutritional determinants of plasma total homocysteine distribution in the Canary Islands. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 111–118 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602490

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