Effects of folic acid supplementation on serum homocysteine levels, lipid profiles, and vascular parameters in post-menopausal Korean women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
10.4162/nrp.2017.11.4.327
- Author:
Aswathy VIJAYAKUMAR
1
;
Eun kyung KIM
;
Hyesook KIM
;
Young Ju CHOI
;
Kap Bum HUH
;
Namsoo CHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea. nschang@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Folic acid;
vitamin B₁₂;
LDL cholesterol;
pulse wave velocity
- MeSH:
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Cholesterol;
Cholesterol, LDL;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*;
Female;
Folic Acid*;
Homocysteine*;
Humans;
Lipoproteins;
Mortality;
Pulse Wave Analysis;
Tablets;
Vitamin B 12;
Vitamins
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice
2017;11(4):327-333
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Complications of diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, are associated with increased mortality among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Homocysteine has been recently identified as a predictor of cardiovascular disease-related complications in diabetes. We investigated whether or not supplementation with folic acid tablets can lower homocysteine levels and improve parameters related with vascular complications. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a non-randomized 8-week trial involving postmenopausal diabetic women (n = 25) supplemented with 800 µg of folic acid (400 µg twice a day) daily. Subjects' serum levels of folate, homocysteine, and vitamin B₁₂ were measured, along with vascular function and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. RESULTS: Folic acid supplementation significantly increased serum folate levels (P < 0.0001), reduced homocysteine levels (P < 0.0001), and increased vitamin B₁₂ levels (P = 0.0063). There were significant decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as the ratios of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocities were not altered by supplementation. Changes in serum vitamin B₁₂ after folic acid supplementation were negatively correlated with changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study on postmenopausal Korean women with type 2 diabetes mellitus, folic acid supplementation reduced serum homocysteine levels, increased serum folate and vitamin B₁₂ levels, and lowered lipid parameters.