Homocysteine, vitamin B₆, and lipid in cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVES: Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). An elevated plasma Hcy level may interact with conventional CVD risk factors to further increase vascular disease risk. Therefore, we investigated the plasma levels of Hcy, vitamin B₆ status (pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxal), and lipid profile in patients with CVD. METHODS: Possible associations between sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to levels of plasma Hcy and plasma Hcy to vitamin B₆ status and lipid profile were examined. RESULTS: Plasma Hcy level, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly higher in patients with CVD than in controls. Male CVD patients had significantly higher plasma Hcy levels than did female patients. Plasma levels of pyridoxal phosphate and total B₆ aldehyde were significantly higher in male than in female patients. Plasma Hcy levels of patients did not correlate to their plasma vitamin B₆ status or to their lipid profiles. Plasma Hcy level correlated positively with age, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This suggested that patients with CVD have higher levels of plasma Hcy that are influenced by sex, age, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio and not by their plasma vitamin B₆ status and lipid profiles.