Related Experiment Videos
Homocysteine and myocardial infarction
B Israelsson1, L E Brattström, B L Hultberg
1Department of Medicine, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Atherosclerosis
|June 1, 1988
Summary
High plasma homocysteine levels were observed in men who experienced myocardial infarction (MI) before age 55. Low folate and vitamin B12 may contribute, suggesting homocysteine as a potential risk factor for heart attack.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) in younger men often lacks conventional risk factors.
- Elevated plasma homocysteine is a suspected contributor to cardiovascular disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma homocysteine levels in men with premature MI and low conventional risk.
- To explore the relationship between homocysteine, B vitamins, and methionine metabolism in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study matching MI patients with healthy controls on key cardiovascular parameters.
- Measurement of fasting plasma total homocysteine, erythrocyte folate, and serum vitamin B12.
- Assessment of homocysteine response to methionine loading.
Main Results:
- 24% of men with premature MI exhibited high fasting plasma homocysteine.
- High homocysteine correlated negatively with folate and vitamin B12 levels.
- Methionine loading revealed potential homocystinuria heterozygosity in a subset of patients.
Conclusions:
- Elevated plasma homocysteine may be a risk factor for myocardial infarction in men with a low conventional risk profile.
- Reduced remethylation due to low B vitamin status could contribute to hyperhomocysteinemia.
- Further investigation into homocystinuria as a risk factor is warranted.