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Updated: May 23, 2026

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein
Published on: October 12, 2017
Homocysteine predicts increased NT-pro-BNP through impaired fatty acid oxidation
R M Guéant Rodriguez1, R Spada, S Pooya
1INSERM U954, Medical Faculty and CHU of Nancy, University Henri Poincaré, Nancy, France. rm.rodriguez@chu-nancy.fr
Methyl donor deficiency, like folate, increases homocysteine, impairing heart mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and raising NT-pro-BNP levels. This highlights a key link between homocysteine and heart disease biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Mitochondrial Function
Background:
- Methyl donor deficiencies (folate, vitamin B12) are linked to elevated homocysteine.
- Elevated homocysteine is associated with myocardial hypertrophy and impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
- This study investigates the connection between homocysteine, mitochondrial function, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of methyl donors on heart mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
- To examine the relationship between homocysteine levels and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in two distinct populations.
- To elucidate the mechanism linking hyperhomocysteinemia and BNP.
Main Methods:
- Assessed biomarkers of heart disease, one-carbon metabolism, and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in 1020 subjects.
- Included patients undergoing coronarography and ambulatory elderly subjects from the OASI cohort.
- Utilized multivariate analysis to identify determinants of NT-pro-BNP.
Main Results:
- Folate deficiency and higher homocysteine concentrations were observed in the coronarography population.
- Subjects with higher homocysteine levels showed increased NT-pro-BNP and acylcarnitines, indicating impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
- Homocysteine and long-chain acylcarnitines were identified as interacting determinants of NT-pro-BNP.
Conclusions:
- Homocysteine is a predictor of elevated NT-pro-BNP (or BNP).
- This prediction is mediated through impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
- The findings were consistent across two contrasted human populations.
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