B-vitamins, homocysteine and gene polymorphism in adults with fasting or post-methionine loading hyperhomocysteinemia.

Background: Although fasting and post-methionine loading (PML) homocysteine concentrations are not necessarily related, a high percentage of hyperhomocysteinemia cases would be missed if methionine loading was not performed.

Aim Of The Study: The influences of B-vitamins and genetic polymorphism (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C --> T, MTHFR 677C --> T) on fasting and PML homocysteine concentrations and the relationship between fasting and PML homocysteine were studied.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study.

High plasma homocysteine is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease independent of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C-->T genotypes.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relations between the methylenetetrafolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C-->T genotypes, B-vitamins (folate, vitamin B-12 and B-6), homocysteine and the risk of CAD. In this case-control study, patients who were identified by cardiac catheterization as having at least 50% stenosis of one major coronary artery were assigned to the case group (n=121).

Plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are independently associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.

Objective: Whether vitamin B6 exerts an independent or a synergic effect in combination with inflammation for the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is dependent on or independent of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP) to associate with the risk of CAD.

Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control.

Plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is a significant indicator of immune responses in the mechanically ventilated critically ill.

Objectives: This study assessed the effect of vitamin B6 status on immune responses in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients and compared the results with those of healthy controls.

Methods: This was designed as a cross-sectional observational study. Forty patients in the intensive care unit successfully completed this study.

Homocysteine and risk of coronary artery disease: Folate is the important determinant of plasma homocysteine concentration.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to study the effects of folate and vitamins B6 and B12 on plasma homocysteine concentration and to estimate the risks for coronary artery disease (CAD) according to quartiles of plasma homocysteine concentration.

Methods: The study was designed as a case-reference observational study. Case subjects (CAD group, n = 60) were identified by cardiac catheterization to have at least 70% stenosis of one major coronary artery; otherwise, patients were considered for a reference group (n = 60).