Effect of Homocysteine Reduction by B-Vitamin Supplementation on Markers of Clotting Activation

Mariska Klerk; Petra Verhoef; Bert Verbruggen; Evert G. Schouten; Henk J. Blom; Gerard M. J. Bos; Martin den Heijer

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1613192

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2002; 88(02): 230-235
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613192

In Focus

Schattauer GmbH

Effect of Homocysteine Reduction by B-Vitamin Supplementation on Markers of Clotting Activation

Mariska Klerk

¹Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen

²Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen

,

Petra Verhoef

¹Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen

²Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen

,

Bert Verbruggen

³Lab of Hematology, University Medical Center Nijmegen

,

Evert G. Schouten

¹Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen

,

Henk J. Blom

⁴Lab of Pediatrics and Neurology, University Medical Center Nijmegen

,

Gerard M. J. Bos

⁵Department of Hematology, University Hospital Maastricht

,

Martin den Heijer

⁶Department of Endocrinology

⁷Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Medical Center Nijmegen, The Netherlands

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Homocysteine may have an effect on risk of cardiovascular disease by stimulating procoagulant factors and/or impair anti-coagulant mechanisms or fibrinolysis. However, data in humans of such effects are sparse. In this intervention study, we examined the effect of homocysteine lowering by B-vitamin supplementation on prothrombin fragments 1 and 2 (F₁₊₂), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and fibrin degradation products (D-dimer). The study comprised 118 healthy volunteers, 50 with homocysteine > 16 µmol/L and 68 with homocysteine ≤ 16 µmol/L, who were randomized to placebo or highdose B-vitamin supplements (5 mg folic acid, 0.4 mg hydroxycobalamin, and 50 mg pyridoxine) daily for 8 weeks. Although homocysteine concentrations were 27.7% (p < 0.0001) reduced in the Bvitamin group compared to the placebo group, no effect on F₁₊₂ and TAT concentrations was observed. A 10.4% reduction was observed for D-dimer (p = 0.08).

In conclusion, it appears that in healthy subjects homocysteine reduction by B-vitamin supplementation has a modest beneficial effect on clotting activation.

Keywords

Homocysteine - B-vitamins - clotting activation - intervention - healthy volunteers

Full Text

References

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