Homocysteine and folate levels in postmenopausal women

Objectives: To assess total homocysteine (tHcy) and folate levels in postme nopausal women and investigate whether age, menopause duration, kind of men opause and tobacco use had an effect on these levels. Methods: Total homocy steine and folate levels were measured in fasting blood samples of 200 post menopausal women with normal thyroid and renal function tests. Patients wer e not receiving vitamins or hormone replacement therapy. Results: Total hom ocysteine levels increased significantly after 60 years while folate levels showed a decrease trend after 65 years. Menopause duration had no effect o n folate levels and increased significantly tHcy levels after > 180 months duration. The kind of menopause did not influence tHcy and folate levels. T obacco use reduced significantly folate levels. Conclusions: Age seems to b e the principal factor influencing tHcy levels. We believe that decreased f olate levels also reflect an age-associated inadequate dietary intake. Toba cco use did not alter tHcy levels; however, we found smoking to lower folat e levels. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.