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Published on: July 14, 2016
A proinflammatory state is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in the elderly
Anna Maria Gori1, Anna Maria Corsi, Sandra Fedi
1Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Area, Center for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. am.gori@dac.unifi.it
Insights
High levels of inflammatory markers, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), are linked to higher homocysteine concentrations. This finding may help explain the connection between homocysteine and atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- High homocysteine is a risk factor for atherothrombosis, but the mechanism is unclear.
- A proinflammatory state is associated with atherosclerosis.
- Acute phase reactants may correlate with homocysteine levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between inflammatory markers and hyperhomocysteinemia.
- To determine if this association is independent of vitamin intake, vitamin levels, and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- To analyze a large, representative general population sample.
Main Methods:
- Random selection of 586 men and 734 women from two towns near Florence, Italy.
- Adjustment for multiple potential confounders.
- Analysis of plasma homocysteine and inflammatory marker concentrations.
Main Results:
- Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) showed significant association with plasma homocysteine in individuals over 65.
- Higher IL-6 levels correlated with increased risk of high or intermediate homocysteine concentrations.
- Sedentary lifestyle, vitamin B-6 and folic acid intake, and serum levels of folate, B-12, B-6, and alpha-tocopherol were independent correlates of homocysteine.
Conclusions:
- Elevated circulating IL-1ra and IL-6 are independent correlates of hyperhomocysteinemia.
- These inflammatory markers may partially explain the link between homocysteine and atherosclerosis.
- Findings highlight the role of inflammation in homocysteine-related cardiovascular risk.
Background:
The mechanism by which high circulating homocysteine concentrations are a risk factor for atherothrombosis is incompletely understood. A proinflammatory state is related to atherosclerosis, and recent studies suggest that acute phase reactants correlate with circulating concentrations of homocysteine.
Objective:
We determined whether high concentrations of inflammatory markers are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia independently of dietary vitamin intakes, vitamin concentrations, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a large, representative sample of the general population.
Design:
Five hundred eighty-six men and 734 women were randomly selected from the inhabitants of 2 small towns near Florence, Italy.
Results:
After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with plasma homocysteine concentrations in older (>65 y) populations. Compared with participants in the lowest IL-6 tertile, those in the highest tertile had a higher risk of having homocysteine concentrations that were high (>30 micromol/L; odds ratio: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.6; P = 0.024) or in the intermediate range 15-30 micromol/L (odds ratio: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.2; P = 0.0014). Sedentary state, intakes of vitamin B-6 and folic acid, and serum folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significant independent correlates of homocysteine.
Conclusions:
High circulating concentrations of IL-1ra and IL-6 are independent correlates of hyperhomocysteinemia and may explain, at least in part, the association between homocysteine and atherosclerosis.
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