SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS IN HEALTHY CHILEAN ADULTS

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a newly recognized cardiovascular risk factor that is present in 10 to 20% of European and North America n individuals. Aim: To measure homocysteine levels in healthy adults i n Chile. Subjects and methods: Serum homocysteine levels were measured in healthy adults using a fluorimetric HPLC method. Folic acid, vitam in B12, serum lipids, creatinine and glucose were also assessed. All s ubjects answered a dietary habits questionnaire. Results: One hundred twenty eight subjects (90 female) aged 22 to 78 years old were studied . Homocysteine levels were 9.7+/-6.0 and 7.0+/-3.1 mu mol/l in men and women respectively (p<0.001). Folic acid levels were 6.1+/-2.7 and 6/ 1+/-2.9 ng/ml in men and women, and 24% of individuals had values belo w 4 ng/ml. Vitamin B-12 levels were 393+/-147 and 393+/-163 pg/ml in t he same groups. There was a negative correlation between homocysteine and folic acid levels and a positive correlation between homocysteine and creatine levels. Conclusions: Homocysteine levels in healthy Chile an individuals are similar to those reported abroad. Low folic acid le vels were found in 24% of subjects.