Circulating homocysteine and large arterial stiffness and thickness in a population-based sample of middle-aged and elderly men

Abstract

Elevated plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular events, and has been associated with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with classical cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of plasma tHcy with functional and structural changes in the large arteries by measuring aortic pulsewave velocity (PWV) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). In a population-based sample of 376 middle-aged and elderly men, tHcy levels were measured by using fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Aortic stiffness was assessed non-invasively by measuring carotid-femoral PWV with the use of applanation tonometry. CIMT was measured by ultrasonography. We used multivariate linear regression analysis with the logtransformed value of tHcy as the determinant, and aortic PWV and CIMT as outcomes. In the univariate model, PWV increased with increasing tHcy concentration; PWV increased by 2.64 m/s (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74; 3.54) per unit change in log tHcy. After adjustment for confounders, no statistically significant association remained; PWV increased by 0.42 m/s (95% CI À0.27; 1.11) per unit change in log tHcy. Furthermore, in the univariate model, CIMT increased significantly with increasing tHcy concentration; CIMT increased by 0.19 mm (95% CI 0.11; 0.26) per unit increase log tHcy. This association was attenuated and did not remain significant after additional adjustment for age and cardiovascular confounders (b ¼ 0.06 (95% CI À0.01; 0.13)). The results of this study do not support the presence of an independent relationship between circulating tHcy levels and large artery stiffness and thickness.

Plasma total homocysteine and carotid intima-media thickness in type 1 diabetes: A prospective study

“…In patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with and without nephropathy, and in elderly men with cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, mean tHcy levels were not significantly correlated with common carotid IMT [15], [32], [33] and [34]. On the other hand, significant cross-sectional associations of IMT with higher (> 9-12 μmol/L) versus lower levels of tHcy have been reported by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Family Heart Study in older subjects (n=1467) with and without diabetes mellitus [14].…”

Pulse Pressure Amplification and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

“…The subjects and methods of recruitment of this study have been described elsewhere. [8][9][10] The subjects were recruited by asking women participating in other studies conducted by the department by letter whether they possibly knew interested men between ages 40 and 80. Invitation letters were sent to 770 participating women.…”

Positive Association of Plasma Homocysteine Levels with Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in a Prospective Study of Japanese Men from the General Population

“…We reviewed the findings of seven cross-sectional studies and one cohort study to investigate the association between Hcy levels and arterial stiffness using PWV or CAVI as a quantitative marker for the degree of early arteriosclerosis (Supplemental Table 1). The cross-sectional studies reported inconsistent results, with no association found in three studies [16][17][18] and a Dummy variables (0 and 1) were used for the 5-year CAVI values ( 9.0 and ≥ 9.0) and for the 5-year change in the CAVI values ( 0.48 and ≥ 0.48). Univariate analysis that was adjusted for age.…”

“…Among patients with hypertension, most studies have investigated the association between high Hcy levels and arterial stiffness by measuring PWV 14,15) . In addition, studies among the general population include seven cross-sectional studies and one cohort study [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . However, the findings of these studies were inconsistent.…”