Folic acid improves arterial endothelial function in adults with hyperhomocystinemia

摘要: Abstract OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether oral folic acid supplementation might improve endothelial function in the arteries of asymptomatic adults with hyperhomocystinemia. BACKGROUND Hyperhomocystinemia is an independent risk factor for dysfunction and occlusive vascular disease. Folic can lower homocystine levels subjects hyperhomocystinemia; however, effect this on arterial physiology not known. METHODS Adults were recruited from a community-based atherosclerosis study healthy volunteers aged 40 to 70 years who had no history hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease or family premature (n = 89). Seventeen (aged 54 ± 10 years, 15 male) fasting total above 75th percentile (mean, 9.8 2.8 μmol/liter) consented participate double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial; each subject received (10 mg/day) placebo 8 weeks, separated by washout period four weeks. Flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation (percent increase diameter) brachial artery was assessed high resolution ultrasound, before after supplementation. RESULTS Compared placebo, resulted higher serum folate (66.2 7.0 vs. 29.7 14.8 nmol/liter; p CONCLUSION improves relative hyperhomocystinemia, potentially beneficial effects atherosclerotic process.