Vegan diet-based lifestyle program rapidly lowers homocysteine levels

Background. Plasma homocysteine levels have been directly associated with c ardiac disease risk. Current research raises concerns as to whether compreh ensive lifestyle approaches including a plant-based diet may interact with other known modulators of homocysteine levels. Methods. We report our observations of homocysteine levels in 40 self-selec ted subjects who participated in a vegan diet-based lifestyle program. Each subject attended a residential lifestyle change program at the Lifestyle C enter of America in Sulphur, Oklahoma and had fasting plasma total homocyst eine measured on enrollment and then after 1 week of lifestyle intervention . The intervention included a vegan diet, moderate physical exercise, stres s management and spirituality enhancement sessions, group support, and excl usion of tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine. B vitamin supplements known to red uce blood homocysteine levels were not provided. Results. Subjects' mean homocysteine levels fell 13%: from 8.66 mu mol/L (S n 2.7 mu mol/L) to 7.53 mu mol/L (SD 2.12 mu mol/L; P < 0.0001). Subgroup a nalysis showed that homocysteine decreased across a range of demographic an d diagnostic categories. Conclusions. Our results suggest that broad-based lifestyle interventions f avorably impact homocysteine levels. Furthermore, analysis of Lifestyle Cen ter of America program components suggests that other factors in addition t o B vitamin intake may be involved in the observed homocysteine lowering. ( C) 2000 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.