Association between plasma homocysteine and vascular atherosclerotic disease in older persons

W S Aronow1

  • 1Hebrew Hospital Home, Bronx, NY, and the Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Preventive Cardiology
|February 9, 2002
PubMed

Insights

High homocysteine levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke in older adults. Ongoing studies are examining if multivitamin therapy can lower homocysteine and reduce this risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Elevated plasma homocysteine is a recognized risk factor for various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
  • Conditions linked to high homocysteine include coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and aortic atherosclerosis, particularly in older populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of multivitamin therapy in mitigating cardiovascular disease risk.
  • To determine if reducing plasma homocysteine levels through supplementation impacts cardiovascular outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • The study references ongoing randomized trials.
  • These trials are designed to assess the effect of multivitamin therapy on plasma homocysteine levels.

Main Results:

  • Results from the ongoing trials are pending.
  • The primary focus is on whether homocysteine reduction translates to decreased cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions:

  • Further research through randomized trials is necessary.
  • The findings will elucidate the role of homocysteine-lowering multivitamin therapy in preventing cardiovascular disease.

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