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Hyperhomocysteinaemia and vitamin B12 deficiency: the long-term effects in cardiovascular disease

Martijn G H van Oijen1, Floor Vlemmix, Robert J F Laheij

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. M.vanOijen@mdl.umcn.nl

Cardiology
|June 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

High homocysteine levels, not low vitamin B12, increase cardiovascular event risk in ischemic heart disease patients. This finding highlights homocysteine as a key factor in cardiovascular disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Elevated plasma homocysteine is a known cardiovascular disease risk factor.
  • Vitamin B12 is crucial for homocysteine metabolism, potentially influencing cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between vitamin B12 deficiency or hyperhomocysteinaemia and recurrent cardiovascular events.
  • To determine the independent impact of homocysteine and vitamin B12 on cardiovascular outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 211 patients post-Coronary Care Unit discharge.
  • Measured serum vitamin B12 and plasma homocysteine levels.
  • Followed patients for 5 years to collect data on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

Main Results:

  • Hyperhomocysteinaemia (>16 micromol/l) was associated with a significantly increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio 2.22).
  • No significant difference in survival was observed based on vitamin B12 levels (<250 pmol/l vs. higher).
  • 48 patients (21%) experienced nonfatal events and 14 (7%) died from cardiovascular causes during follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • High plasma homocysteine concentration is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease.
  • Low serum vitamin B12 concentration was not found to be an independent risk factor for recurrent cardiovascular events in this cohort.
Abstract

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