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A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

Decrease of carotid intima-media thickness in patients at risk to cerebral ischemia after supplementation with folic

Uwe Till1, Peter Röhl, Almut Jentsch

  • 1Institute of Pathobiochemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Postfach, Jena, Germany. till@mti.uni-jena.de

Atherosclerosis
|June 9, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin supplementation significantly reduced atherosclerosis markers in patients at risk. This intervention lowered carotid intima-media thickness, independent of homocysteine levels.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Medical Research

Background:

  • Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis.
  • Vitamins are known to lower homocysteine levels, but their direct impact on atherosclerosis progression is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of vitamin supplementation on atherosclerosis progression.
  • To determine if vitamin supplementation impacts carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized trial involving 50 patients with IMT ≥ 1 mm.
  • Patients received daily folic acid, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12, or a placebo for one year.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured as a marker of atherosclerotic changes.

Main Results:

  • The treatment group showed a significant decrease in homocysteine (Hcy) levels (P < 0.0001).
  • Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) significantly decreased in the vitamin treatment group (P = 0.034) but increased in the placebo group.
  • The difference in IMT changes between groups was statistically significant (P = 0.019), with medication being the sole determinant.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin supplementation effectively reduces IMT in patients at risk for atherosclerosis.
  • The observed reduction in IMT is independent of changes in homocysteine concentration.
Abstract

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