Plasma homocysteine concentrations are positively associated with hostility and anger

Homocysteine is a sulphur amino acid that is positively associated with ris k of vascular disease. Very few behavioral or psychological factors have be en studied in relationship to homocysteine levels, despite the fact that se veral psychological factors have also been linked with risk for cardiovascu lar disease. One psychological attribute showing a strong association with risk is hostility, which is prospectively predictive of future cardiovascul ar disease endpoints. Another related psychological factor is anger express ion; coronary heart disease risk is associated with both heightened express ion and inhibition of anger. The purpose of this study was to test the rela tionship of hostility and anger expression with 'homocysteine concentration s in a sample of healthy; middle-aged men and women. Participants completed the Cook-Medley hostility questionnaire, the Speilberger Anger Expression questionnaire, and had blood taken for the assessment of plasma homocystein e concentrations. Results indicated positive and significant associations b etween hostility and homocysteine levels for ail participants, and positive and significant correlations between anger-in and homocysteine levels for men only. These data are among the first to test the relationship between h omocysteine and psychological risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and suggest one potential mechanism for the increased cardiovascular risk asso ciated with hostility and anger expression.