Study of Correlation between Hyperhomocysteinemia and Cardiovascular Risk Factor in Indian Patients

Volume : VII, Issue : V, May - 2018

Ranjeet Badole

Background and purpose: Folate and vitamin B12 are essential components in the metabolism of homocys–teine (Hcy).

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been implicated in endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. However, the association of

Hcy, vitamin B12, and folic acid with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been studied

in Indian patients. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the relationship of vitamin B12, folic acid, and Hcy levels with

cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with known CAD.

Methods and subjects: Three hundred patients (216 men; 84 women; aged 2592 years) who had CAD on angiography were

included in this study consecutively. All patients were evaluated for anthropom–etry and cardiovascular risk factors, and blood

samples were collected for biochemical, nutritional, and inflammatory markers.

Results: Percentage of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency was 86.7% and 2.7%, respectively. Hyperhomo–cysteinemia was

present in 95.3% patients. Vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower and Hcy levels were significantly higher in subjects with

dyslipidemia, DM, and/or hypertension. Serum vitamin B12 was inversely associated with triglyceride and very low–density

lipoprotein (VLDL) and positively with high–density lipoprotein (HDL). Hcy was positively associated with triglyceride and VLDL and

negatively with HDL. Vitamin B12 was inversely correlated with inflammatory markers (high–sensitivity C–reactive protein and

interleukin–6) directly related to insulin resistance whereas Hcy showed the opposite pattern.

Conclusions: Serum vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia are related with cardiovascular risk factors in Indian

patients with CAD.