PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE CONCENTRATIONS IN A POPULATION WITH A LOW CORONARY HEART-DISEASE PREVALENCE

To evaluate hyperhomocysteinemia as a possible coronary heart disease risk factor, the South African black population as example of a popula tion with a low coronary heart disease prevalence was investigated and compared with a population prone to coronary heart disease (South Afr ican Whites). In traditionally living adult black men, plasma homocyst eine concentrations were significantly lower compared with Whites. The plasma homocysteine frequency distribution in Whites was positively s kewed; individuals with high plasma homocysteine concentrations probab ly acquire these during or after young adulthood, because the plasma h omocysteine frequency distribution in children was normal. Compared wi th Blacks, young adult Whites showed methionine intolerance expressed as high plasma homocysteine concentrations after an oral methionine lo ad test. The results indicate that Blacks generally have lower circula ting plasma homocysteine concentrations and more effective homocystein e metabolism after oral methionine loading, which may partially explai n their relative resistance against coronary heart disease.