HYPERHOMOCYSTEINEMIA IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLISM - CORRELATION WITH FOLATE,VITAMIN-B-12, AND VITAMIN-B-6 STATUS

Serum homocysteine concentrations have been shown to be a sensitive fu nctional indicator of intracellular folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 status. Chronic alcoholism is known to interfere with one-carbon m etabolism, for which the above vitamins serve as coenzymes. In the pre sent study, these vitamins were assessed in 32 chronic alcoholics and 31 healthy volunteers by measuring blood vitamin concentrations as wel l as serum homocysteine concentrations. In chronic alcoholics, serum p yridoxal 5'-phosphate and red blood cell folate concentrations were si gnificantly lower than in the control subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.00 8, respectively). Mean serum homocysteine was twice as high in chronic alcoholics than in nondrinkers (P < 0.001). Beer consumers had signif icantly lower concentrations of homocysteine compared with drinkers of wine or spirits (P = 0.05). These results suggest that by interfering with folate or vitamin B-6 metabolism, chronic alcohol intake may imp air the disposal of homocysteine through the transmethylation or trans sulfuration pathways.