SERUM FOLATE AND RISK OF FATAL CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

Objective.-To assess the relationship between serum folate level and t he risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) among men and women. Des ign.-Retrospective cohort study with serum folate levels measured from September 1970 to December 1972, with follow-up through 1985. Setting .-Participants in the Nutrition Canada Survey. Participants.-A total o f 5056 Canadian men and women aged 35 to 79 years with no history of s elf-reported CHD. Main Outcome Measure.-Fifteen-year CHD mortality. Re sults.-A total of 165 CHD deaths were observed. We found a statistical ly significant association between serum folate level and risk of fata l CHD, with rate ratios for individuals in the lowest serum folate lev el category (<6.8 nmol/L [3 ng/mL]) compared with the highest category (>13.6 nmol/L [6 ng/mL]) of 1.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.61) . Conclusions.-These data indicate that low serum folate levels are as sociated with an increased risk of fatal CHD.