Epidemiologic correlates of serum folate and homocysteine levels among users and non-users of vitamin supplement Journal Article


Authors: Kato, I.; Dnistrian, A. M.; Schwartz, M.; Toniolo, P.; Koenig, K.; Shore, R. E.; Zeieniuch-Jacquotte, A.; Akhmedkhanov, A.; Riboli, E.
Article Title: Epidemiologic correlates of serum folate and homocysteine levels among users and non-users of vitamin supplement
Abstract: Lower serum folate and higher serum homocysteine levels are known risk factors for various conditions. Thus, epidemiologic correlates with these measurements were studied for 256 multivitamin users and 230 non-users who were middle-aged women. Both serum folate and homocysteine levels increased with advancing age in both multivitamin users (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01) and non-users (P = 0.08 and P < 0.01). Among non-users, higher intake of vegetables, fruits, cold cereals and total protein were associated positively with serum folate and inversely with homocysteine levels. There were 25-74% increases in serum folate and 10-15% decreases in serum homocysteine between 1st and 4th quartiles of intake of these food/nutrients. In addition, 26% lower serum folage and 18% higher serum homocysteine were observed for those smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day compared with non-smokers. Among multivitamin users, body weight was correlated inversely with serum folate (P< 0.01) and positively with serum homocysteine levels (P= 0.04), while no correlates were found among lifestyle factors. Regular use of multivitamins increased serum folate about fourfold and decreased homocysteine twofold. These results suggest that multivitamin use can offset the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle on these serum markers, and that levels of serum folate and homocysteine can also be favorably influenced by healthier diet and abstinence from smoking.
Keywords: adult; aged; middle aged; case control study; case-control studies; prospective study; prospective studies; nutritional status; body weight; smoking; diet supplementation; age; blood; diet; dietary supplements; folic acid; homocysteine; vitamin; folate; vitamins; humans; human; female; article
Journal Title: International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research
Volume: 69
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0300-9831
Publisher: Verlag Hans Huber  
Date Published: 1999-09-01
Start Page: 322
End Page: 329
Language: English
PUBMED: 10526776
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.1024/0300-9831.69.5.322
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 16 August 2016 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Morton Schwartz
    186 Schwartz