Homocysteine, vitamin B6, and lipid in cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVES: Elevated homocysteine (Hey) is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). An elevated plasma Hey level may interact with conventional CVD risk factors to further increase vascular disease risk. Therefore, we investigated the plasma levels of Hey. vitamin B-6 status (pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxal), and lipid profile in patients with CVD. METHODS: Possible associations between sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to levels of plasma Hey and plasma Hey to vitamin B-6 status and lipid profile were examined. RESULTS: Plasma Hey level, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly higher in patients with CVD than in controls. Male CVD patients had significantly higher plasma Hey levels than did female patients. Plasma levels of pyridoxal phosphate and total B-6 aldehyde were significantly higher in male than in female patients. Plasma Hey levels of patients did not correlate to their plasma vitamin B-6 Status or to their lipid profiles. Plasma Hey level correlated positively with age, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This suggested that patients with CVD have higher levels of plasma Hey that are influenced by sex, age, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio and not by their plasma vitamin B-6 status and lipid profiles.