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Thromb Haemost 2004; 92(05): 1086-1091
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-05-0284
Endothelium and Vascular Development
Schattauer GmbH

The effect of homocysteine reduction by B-vitamin supplementation on markers of endothelial dysfunction

Anita C.T. M. Peeters
1   Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen,The Netherlands
,
Els F. van der Molen
2   Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Nijmegen,The Netherlands
,
Henk J. Blom
2   Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Nijmegen,The Netherlands
,
Martin den Heijer
1   Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen,The Netherlands
3   Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Medical Centre Nijmegen,The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 06 May 2004

Accepted after resubmission 27 July 2004

Publication Date:
04 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for arterial vascular disease and venous thrombosis. The pathophysiology of this relation is unclear, but several studies suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia impairs endothelial function. We examined the effect of homocysteine lowering by B-vitamin supplementation on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI) and von Willebrand factor (vWf) markers of endothelial dysfunction in hyperhomocysteinemic and normohomocysteinemic volunteers. A total of 123 healthy volunteers were randomized to placebo or B-vitamins (5 mg folic acid, 0.4 mg hydroxycobalamin and 50 mg pyridoxine) daily for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention period, blood samples were taken for measurements of homocysteine, tPA, PAI and vWf.There was no evident association between homocysteine concentration and concentrations of markers of endothelial dysfunction at baseline.The mean reduction of homocysteine concentration was 31% (95%CI 22.7 to 39.1) in the B-vitamin group compared to 3% reduction in the placebo group. Concentrations of tPA, PAI and vWf did not change after supplementation of B-vitamins. In conclusion, the results of our study show that homocysteine reduction by B-vitamin supplementation has no effect on markers of endothelial dysfunction in healthy volunteers.

Keywords

Endothelial dysfunction - hyperhomocysteinemia - plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 - tissue plasminogen activator and von Willebrand factor
 

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