Homocysteine, vitamins B6, B12, folate, and risk of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography

Homocysteine and vitamins B were correlated with coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. 160 patients having greater than or equal to 1 stenosis (G1), 55 patients having normal coronary arteries (G2) and 171 healthy volunteers (G3) were prospectively recruited. Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients, particulary in those with normal coronary angiograms, than in healthy subjects (13.8 +/- 6.3 mu mol/L in G1 (p < 0.0001) and 15.2 +/- 8.8 mu mol/L in G2 (p < 0.0001) versus 10.1 +/- 3.1 mu mol/L in G3). Homocysteine levels were not related to the extent of coronary artery disease. In patients with normal angiogram, vitamin B12 and folate levels were significantly higher compared with the other groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) showing that vitamin B deficiency was not involved in the hyperhomocysteinemia. In conclusion, homocysteine and vitamins B levels do not contribute to discriminate for the presence of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Homocysteine levels, however, were higher in patients referred for coronary angiography than in healthy controls.