Three months supplementation of hyperhomocysteinaemic patients with folic acid and vitamin B6 improves biological markers of endothelial dysfunction

Hyperhomacysteinaemia is a risk factor for premature atherosclerosis and ve nous thromboembolic disease. Supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B6 has been shown to decrease plasma homocysteine but data fail to assess an effect on the progression of vascular disease. We measured plasma homocyste ine and two markers of endothelial injury (plasma soluble thrombomodulin an d von Willebrand factor) at baseline and after 3 months of treatment with f olic acid and vitamin B6. After this treatment there was a significant decr ease in fasting soluble thrombomodulin (-15 ng/ml, 95%CI 5-22.2). Von Wille brand factor was significantly raised after methionine load at baseline but did not significantly rise after supplementation.