The Open Clinical Biochemistry Journal
2010, 3 : 19-24Published online 2010 April 08. DOI: 10.2174/1874241601003010019
Publisher ID: TOCCHEMJ-3-19
Homocysteine: An Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factor that Never Really Made it
Head of Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome Units, Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University, Hippocration Hospital, Thessaloniki, 55 132, Greece.
ABSTRACT
Serum total homocysteine (tHcy) has been implicated in promoting venous thromboembolic events and atherosclerosis, manifested as coronary heart disease, stroke or peripheral arterial disease. Dietary supplementation with B vitamins that lower tHcy concentrations was expected to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, recent metaanalyses of prospective observational studies and randomized controlled trials failed to show a role of tHcy in the pathogenesis of vascular disease or a benefit of B vitamins in CVD events. This review analyzes recent data on the potential of tHcy to cause health problems (if any) and the role of vitamin B supplementation in preventing them.