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Plasma homocysteine concentrations in patients with type 1 diabetes

C C Cronin1, J M McPartlin, D G Barry

  • 1Department of Medicine, University Hospital and National University of Ireland, Cork.

Diabetes Care
|November 5, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels differ in type 1 diabetes patients compared to controls, with metabolism changes observed. These findings suggest homocysteine may not be a significant risk factor for vascular disease in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Total homocysteine (tHcy) is a known risk factor for vascular disease.
  • Understanding tHcy in type 1 diabetes is crucial for assessing vascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure plasma tHcy in type 1 diabetes patients.
  • To investigate tHcy associations with clinical factors and folic acid.
  • To compare tHcy metabolism between diabetic patients and controls.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma tHcy and folic acid measured in 119 type 1 diabetes patients and 51 controls.
  • Patients characterized for microvascular complications and neuropathy.

Main Results:

  • No sex difference in plasma tHcy for diabetic patients, unlike controls.
  • Plasma tHcy correlated with age in patients, not controls.
  • Male patients without complications had lower tHcy than male controls.
  • Diabetic patients had higher plasma folic acid levels.

Conclusions:

  • Homocysteine metabolism differs in type 1 diabetes patients.
  • tHcy is unlikely pathogenic in early diabetic microvascular disease, especially in males.
Abstract

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