A Cross‐sectional Study on the Relationship Between Homocysteine and Lipid Profiles Among Chinese Population from Hunan

Abstract

Previous studies have explored the relationship between homocystein (Hcy) and lipid profiles. However, the results from these studies have been inconsistent. The current study investigated the correlation between Hcy and lipid profiles in Chinese community‐based population. The participants were composed of 4012 Chinese people aged 30–92 years old, who were recruited from rural and urban communities in the Hunan Province. Non‐parametric test and logistic regression were used to examine the distribution of Hcy and lipid profiles (triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol [TC], low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL‐C], high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL‐C]) and the relationship between them. The median age of subjects was 54.50 years old, and 40.98% were male. Median Hcy was 13.20 μmol/L, and 35.39% had hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Median TG was 1.51 mmol/L, TC was 4.77 mmol/L, LDL‐C was 2.62 mmol/L, and HDL‐C was 1.27 mmol/L. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, HHcy was associated with high levels of TG (ORmale = 2.240, p < 0.001; ORfemale = 2.539, p < 0.001), TC (ORmale = 2.237, p < 0.001; ORfemale = 2.202, p < 0.001), and LDL‐C (ORmale = 1.413, p = 0.010; ORfemale = 1.617, p < 0.001) in the different sexes population and low level of HDL‐C in females (OR = 1.326, p = 0.023) after adjusting for confounders. HHcy was independently associated with an increasing risk of low HDL‐C among females. The regression analysis showed that HHcy was also associated with hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and high level of LDL‐C in males and females from Chinese community‐based population, which provides a basis for the treatment and prevention of abnormal lipid metabolism.

Plasma Homocysteine Level Is Independently Associated With Conventional Atherogenic Lipid Profile and Remnant Cholesterol in Adults

“…The atherogenic lipid profiles were in accordance with the criteria of China Adult Dyslipidemia Prevention Guide (2007): hypercholesterolemia (TC ≥ 5.18 mmol/L), hypertriglyceridemia (TG ≥ 1.7 mmol/L), low HDL-C (HDL-C < 1.04 mmol/L), and high LDL-C (LDL-C ≥ 3.37 mmol/L). Consistent with published studies, Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/L was defined as HHcy ( 7 , 30 ).…”

“…The mechanism linking HHcy to the risk of ASCVD is still unclear. Hcy is a type of thiol-containing amino acid and is one of the critical intermediates of the methionine cycle and cysteine metabolism ( 7 ). Previous epidemiological studies and animal experiments implicated that inflammation reaction, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and epigenetic control of gene expression were all potential mediators of HHcy-induced ASCVD ( 8 – 10 ).…”

“…Nevertheless, the link between HHcy and lipid profiles in clinical and epidemiological studies was controversial. Some studies showed that Hcy had a positive correlation with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), TG, and cholesterol and a negative correlation with HDL-C ( 7 , 14 ), while others suggested that HHcy was not associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia after adjusting potential confounders ( 15 ), which might be attributable to the differences in demographic characteristics, including age, sex, race, and geographic regions, food intake, physical activity, and confounding factors included in data analyses among the studies.…”

Prevalence of Hyperhomocysteinemia in China: An Updated Meta-Analysis

“…There were also additional limitations, as the epidemiological studies involved in exploring HHcy were mainly conducted in the north regions, with very few in the south China regions. Recently, the number of studies about Hcy levels or HHcy conducted in south China has increased substantially, which contributes to the need to re-estimate the prevalence of HHcy at the national level [16,17]. Furthermore, considering the key role of Hcy in the process of vascular injury, more studies have been conducted to prevent and treat HHcy by nutritional supplements such as folic acid or other methods [18].…”

Estradiol and Hyperhomocysteinemia Are Linked Predominantly Through Part Renal Function Indicators

“…Our previous cross-sectional study conducted in 24 rural and urban communities in Hunan Province also found that Hcy was related to Scr and UA. The average levels of Scr and UA in the HHcy group was significantly higher than that of the non-HHcy group ( 29 ). Data collected from patients undergoing physical examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in China showed that Hcy was positively correlated with UA (r = 0.393, P <0.001) ( 30 ).…”