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Homocysteine: cardiovascular risk factor in children and adolescents?

Adriana Amorim De Farias Leal1, Astrid Camêlo Palmeira, Gabriella Menezes Almeida De Castro

  • 1Post-graduation Program in Public Health, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.

Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|November 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Homocysteine (He) is linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in children and adolescents. Higher He levels correlate with older age and male gender, and lower vitamin levels, suggesting further research into pediatric hyperhomocysteinemia causes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) pose a significant health concern in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding risk factors for CVD in children and adolescents is crucial for early intervention.
  • Homocysteine (He) is a potential biomarker implicated in cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and identify literature investigating Homocysteine (He) as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in pediatric populations (children and adolescents).
  • To synthesize findings on the relationship between He levels and demographic or biochemical factors in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases: LILACS, IBECS, Science Direct, Medline, and Cochrane Library.
  • Keywords used included "homocysteine", "cardiovascular diseases", "child", and "adolescent".
  • Fifteen relevant articles were selected and analyzed for their findings.

Main Results:

  • A direct relationship was observed between higher Homocysteine (He) levels and increasing age (reported in 8 studies).
  • Male gender was associated with higher He levels (reported in 10 studies).
  • An inverse relationship was found between He levels and serum concentrations of vitamins B6, B12, and folate.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest Homocysteine (He) may be a relevant factor in pediatric cardiovascular risk.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the causes of hyperhomocysteinemia in the pediatric population.
  • Dietary interventions focusing on nutrients essential for He metabolism may be beneficial.

Keywords:
AdolescentAdolescentesCardiovascular diseasesChildCriançasDoenças cardiovascularesHomocisteínaHomocysteine

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