OBJECTIVE: Data on homocysteine (Hcy) status and its determinants are limited among women during pregnancy and postpartum. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate Hcy levels during pregnancy and postpartum, and to explore the determinants like geographic factor. METHODS: This study was conducted in women at mid-pregnancy, late-pregnancy and postpartum from southern, central and northern China. Approximately 132 women were included in each stratum by the three phases and regions. Plasma Hcy concentrations were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with hyperhomocysteinemia defined as > 10.0 µmol/L. Quantile regression was to estimate medians and interquartile ranges ( IQRs), and logistic regression to examine the determinants of hyperhomocysteinemia. RESULTS: For 1,190 women included, the median (IQR) Hcy concentration was 5.66 (4.62, 7.37) μmol/L. The adjusted median in mid-pregnancy, late-pregnancy and postpartum women was 4.75 (4.13, 5.54), 5.72 (4.81, 6.85) and 7.09 (5.65, 8.75) μmol/L, respectively, showing an increasing trend ( P < 0.001). This increasing trend persisted across the three regions. Higher Hcy concentrations were observed in women residing in northern region and those with younger age or lower economic status. A total of 106 (8.9%) women had hyperhomocysteinemia, with a higher prevalence in those residing in northern region (16.0%), or in postpartum women (16.5%). CONCLUSION Hcy levels, varying with geographic region, maternal age and economic status, are increased from mid-pregnancy to late-pregnancy and postpartum, indicating a need to monitor Hcy levels in pregnant and postpartum women to control potential risks related to elevated Hcy levels.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Homocysteine/blood* ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Postpartum Period/blood* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hyperhomocysteinemia/blood* ; Young Adult ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third/blood* ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; East Asian People

This study investigated advantages and potential risks associated with drinking alcohol in Koreans based on the alcohol flush reaction. Our investigation reviewed published studies and examined moderate-drinking levels for Koreans based on modified National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines. Fourteen articles out of a total 198 publications were searched using PubMed, EMBASE, KoreaMed, and RISS (Research Information Sharing Service) databases and selected for review. Individuals without alcohol flush reaction (non-flushers) exhibited lower risks associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and hyperhomocysteinemia and their 10-year cardiovascular disease risk when alcohol consumption was ≤8 drinks/wk. Conversely, risks associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, prediabetes or type-2 diabetes, and high intraocular pressure and increases in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma glutamyl transferase, and blood glucose levels were present when >8 drinks were consumed. For individuals with flushing reaction (flushers), advantages were reported in relation to risks of hyperhomocysteinemia when alcohol consumption was ≤4 drinks/wk, whereas consumption of >4 drinks/wk increased the risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes, high-risk colorectal adenoma, and high intraocular pressure and increased carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma glutamyl transferase, and blood glucose levels. The moderate drinking level for Koreans is ≤8 drinks/wk for men aged ≤65 years and ≤4 drinks/wk for men aged over 65. For women, these limits should be half of those for men. Furthermore, individuals with flushing reaction should maintain an alcohol consumption level half of that for non-flushers.
Adenoma ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drinking ; Female ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Hypertension ; Information Dissemination ; Insulin Resistance ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.) ; Prediabetic State ; Transferases ; Transferrin

Adult ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; blood ; diagnosis ; Bipolar Disorder ; blood ; diagnosis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Vitamin B 12 ; blood

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to differentiate ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) from nonischemic CRVO during the early acute phase using plasma homocysteine as a biochemical marker. METHODS: Fasting plasma homocysteine, serum vitamin B12, and folate levels were measured in 108 consecutive unilateral elderly adult (age >50 years) ischemic CRVO patients in the absence of local and systemic disease and compared with a total of 144 age and sex matched nonischemic CRVO patients and 120 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Homocysteine level was significantly increased in the patients with ischemic CRVO in comparison with nonischemic CRVO patients (p = 0.009) and also in comparison with control subjects (p < 0.001). Analysis also showed that hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with increased incidence of ischemic CRVO (odds ratio, 18) than that for nonischemic CRVO (odds ratio, 4.5). Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in CRVO patients compared to the control but were not significantly different between nonischemic and ischemic CRVO patients (p > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia can be regarded as useful in differentiating nonischemic and ischemic CRVO during the early acute phase in absence of local and systemic disease in the elderly adult (age >50 years) population.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Biomarkers/*blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia/blood/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/complications/*diagnosis ; Time Factors

Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the important factors of the cardiovascular disease, and gout is well known to be associated with cardiovascular disease. There are a few reports on the serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels in patients with gout, however, the results showed discrepancies. In this study, we measured Hcy levels in patients with gout and examined factors associated with the levels of serum Hcy. Ninety-one male patients with gout and 97 age-matched healthy male controls were enrolled in the study. Serum uric acid levels were not significantly different between gout and healthy control groups. However, serum Hcy levels were significantly higher in patients with gout compared to controls (13.96+/-4.05 microM/L vs 12.67+/-3.52 microM/L, P=0.035). In gout group, patients with 1-2 stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) had significantly lower serum Hcy than those with 3-5 stages of CKD (13.15+/-3.46 microM/L vs 17.45+/-4.68 microM/L, P<0.001). Multivariate linear analysis revealed an inverse association between serum Hcy and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (beta=-0.107, P<0.001). In conclusion, serum Hcy was elevated in male patients with gout. Hyperhomocysteinemia was not correlated with serum uric acid, but it was inversely associated with impaired renal function.
Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Gout/blood/*diagnosis ; Homocysteine/*blood ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia/blood/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/blood/pathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Uric Acid/*blood

OBJECTIVETo screen out differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the plasma of children with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), to determine the expression of miR-9-1 in plasma and to preliminarily evaluate the significance of miR-9-1 as a biomarker in MMA.

METHODSPlasma was obtained from 17 MMA children, 10 hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) children without MMA (HHcy group), and 10 normal controls. Of 17 MMA children, 12 had HHcy (MMA+HHcy group), and 5 had no HHcy (MMA group). The differentially expressed miRNAs were screened out by miRNA microarray. Differentially expressed miR-9-1 was selected, and plasma miR-9-1 levels were determined by RT-PCR. Urine was collected from MMA patients who received vitamin B12 treatment, and plasma miR-9-1 levels were determined by RT-PCR after treatment.

RESULTSThe miRNA microarray analysis showed that 26 miRNAs were differentially expressed, among which 16 miRNAs (including miR-9-1) were down-regulated over 2 times, while 10 miRNAs were up-regulated over 2 times. The MMA+HHcy , MMA and HHcy groups had significantly down-regulated miR-9-1 compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). The patients who showed a good response to vitamin B12 treatment had significantly increased plasma miR-9-1 levels, without significant difference compared with the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma miR-9-1 is significantly down-regulated in MMA patients, but it is significantly up-regulated after vitamin B12 treatment, suggesting that miR-9-1 may act as a biomarker in monitoring the progression of MMA.

Adolescent ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; genetics ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver of mice with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and explore the mechanism of gluconeogenesis induced by homocysteine.

METHODSFifty mice were randomly divided into normal control group (n=25) and HHcy group (n=25) and fed with normal food and food supplemented with 1.5% methionine, respectively. After 3 months of feeding, the fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were determined, and HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The expressions of G6Pase and PEPCK in the liver of mice were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe fasting blood glucose and insulin levels and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in HHcy group than in the control group (P<0.05). RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the hepatic expressions of G6Pase and PEPCK mRNA and proteins increased significantly in HHcy group compared with those in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHomocysteine promotes gluconeogenesis to enhance glucose output and contribute to the occurrence of insulin resistance.

Animals ; Gluconeogenesis ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of homcysteine on the expression of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) in the adipose tissue and explore whether PDK1 inhibits p-Akt(Thr-308) expression and affect PI3K/Akt signal pathway to decrease glucose uptake and utilization.

METHODSForty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10), namely the fasting control group, feeding control group, fasting hyperhomocysteinemia group, and feeding hyperhomocysteinemia group. In the two hyperhomocysteinemia groups, the mice were given water containing 1.5% methionine to induce hyperhomocysteinemia. Blood glucose and insulin levels in each group were determined, and the expressions of PDK1 and Akt mRNA in the adipose tissue were detected using RT-PCR; the expressions of PDK1, p-Akt(Thr-308) and Akt proteins were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTSIn the fasting and feeding hyperhomocysteinemia groups, blood glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher than those in the two control groups. The expressions of PDK1 mRNA and PDK1 and p-Akt(Thr-308) proteins were reduced in the two hyperhomocysteinemia groups, but Akt mRNA and protein expressions were comparable with those in the control groups.

CONCLUSIONHomocysteine lowers the uptake and utilization of glucose by down-regulating PDK1 expression and affecting PI3K/Akt signal pathway to cause disturbance of glucose metabolism.

3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; metabolism ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo observe the correlation between the decline of cognitive function and the level of plasma homocysteine in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThirty six AD patients were selected from hospitals in Tianjin. The enrolled patients were in accord with the diagnosis criteria. Thirty two control subjects were corresponding patients without AD in the period. Blood samples were extracted from each subject to determine the levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and folate. Cognitive status was evaluated by the mini- mental state examination (MMSE) and clinical dementia rating scale (CDR).

RESULTSThe mean value of serum Hcy concentration [(17.51 +/- 5.62) micromol/L] of AD group was higher than that of control group [(12.38 +/- 4.25)micromol/L]. The serum [(5.17 +/- 1.76) microg/L] and diet folate [(206.94 +/- 44.51) microg/d] concentration of AD group were lower than those of control group [(7.92 +/- 2.22) microg/L, (259.74 +/- 41.92) microg/ d]. The incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in AD group (64%) was higher than that in control group (22%). A significant relation between Hcy concentrations and the CDR was observed. With the increase of Hcy concentrations the CDR raised, and with the increase of Hcy concentrations the MMSE decreased.

CONCLUSIONHyperhomocysteinemia is one of the risk factors inducing the onset of AD. There is a significant negative correlation between Hcy levels and cognitive levels in AD group. Folate deficiency is an important reason to cause elevated Hcy levels in AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; blood ; etiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; blood ; complications

Adult ; Age of Onset ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Betaine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Genotype ; Homocysteine ; urine ; Humans ; Hydroxocobalamin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Infant ; Methylmalonic Acid ; blood ; urine ; Mutation ; Vitamin B 12 ; metabolism