Genetic, dietary, and other lifestyle determinants of serum homocysteine levels in young adults in Costa Rica

Año de publicación

2005

UUID

78f379a1-910b-47f5-a34a-cd184fe725d4

Resumen

Objective: Elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy) is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to develop the first-ever information on the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and its determinants in a population in Costa Rica. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine serum levels of tHcy, vitamin B12, folate and creatinine, as well as the presence of the genotype TT for the methylentetratrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme. Additionally, dietary vitamin intakes and other lifestyle risk factors were assessed. A total of 399 Costa Rican adults from the central valley of the country (where the capital city, San José, is located), aged 20 to 40 years, participated in this study in the year 2000. Analyses of variance were performed for continuous variables, and the chi-square test was used for categorical data. Spearman correlation tests were calculated to determine associations between variables. Three linear regression analyses and one binary logistic model were developed in order to determine the predictors for homocysteine levels in the population studied. Results: The overall prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia ( over 15 umol/L) in the population was 6%, 31% of the population were in the range of 10 to 15 umol/L, 29% had the genotype TT for the enzyme MTHFR, 18% presented a vitamin B12 deficiency ( less 165 pmol/L), and none of the persons had low serum folate levels (less 7,0 nmol/l). No significant associations were found between tHcy and age, smoking, consuming alcohol, or dietary vitamin intake. Conclusions: Only serum vitamin B12 levels and the genotype TT of the enzyme MTHFR were considered significant predictors of high serum tHcy levels in the Costa Rica population studied.

Publicador

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, vol17(4)

Enlace del origen de la publicación

Documentación restringida

No

Tipo de publicación

Article

Descriptores

• FACTORES DE RIESGO
• CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
• ENFERMEDADES CARDIOVASCULARES
• COSTA RICA
• HOMOCYSTEINE
• RISK FACTORS
• ESTILO DE VIDA
• LIFE STYLE
• HOMOCISTEINA