Plasma homocysteine concentrations in type II diabetic patients in India: Relationship to body weight

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been established as a risk factor for cardiovascul ar disease and occurs with a high prevalence in patients with type II diabe tes and microvascular disease. In order to determine whether plasma homocys teine concentrations vary with body-mass index in patients with type II dia betes, we measured plasma homocysteine in lean, normal weight, and overweig ht subjects living in India. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly lower in the lean per sons with diabetes when compared to those who were obese and compared to co ntrol subjects (p < 0.02). We conclude that plasma homocysteine concentrati ons are lower in lean persons with type II diabetes and that this efficienc y in homocysteine metabolism may contribute towards protection from cardiov ascular disease in this population (Journal of Diabetes and Its Complicatio ns 13;4:200-203, 1999.) (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.