ABSTRACT

Purpose:

To test the hypothesis that the coronary heart disease is associated with high serum homocysteine and low vitamin B-12, and folic acid concentrations

Methods:

In this population-based case control study, “304 cases” with is-chemic ECG findings and “301 controls” without ischemia in their ECGs were selected as the study population.

Results:

The mean value of serum homocysteine levels of the cases (6.52 μmol/L ±6.38, median= 1.90) was not significantly higher than the values of the control group (6.19±5.99μmol/L, median= 1.80) (p= 0.556). The mean value the folic acid levels of the cases (6.76 ng/ml ±3.10, median= 6.10) were higher than the values measured for the control group (6.32 ng/ml ±2.54, median= 6.20). However, this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.089). Serum vitamin B12 levels (mean =282.87 pg/ml ±125.96, median= 230.50), on the other hand, were found to be significantly higher in cases than those in the controls (mean =252.81 pg/ml ±105.59, median= 105.59) (p= 0.005). Multivariate analysis controlling for age and serum ho-mosistein, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels simultaneously suggested high vitamin B12 as a significant predictor of coronary hearth disease.

Conclusion:

These results do not support the hypothesis that coronary heart disease is related to high serum homocysteine concentration. Yet, there is suggestive evidence of a positive association between coronary hearth disease and serum vitamin B12 levels. The results are not conclusive due to inability to adequately control for potential confounders