No effect of folic acid supplementation in the course of 1 year on haemostasis markers and C-reactive protein in older adults

Mariska Klerk; Jane Durga; Evert G. Schouten; Cornelis Kluft; Frans J. Kok; Petra Verhoef

doi:10.1160/TH04-08-0524

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2005; 94(01): 96-100
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-08-0524

Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis

Schattauer GmbH

No effect of folic acid supplementation in the course of 1 year on haemostasis markers and C-reactive protein in older adults

Mariska Klerk

¹Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

²Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen, The Netherlands

,

Jane Durga

¹Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

²Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen, The Netherlands

,

Evert G. Schouten

¹Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

,

Cornelis Kluft

³Gaubius Laboratory, TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands

,

Frans J. Kok

¹Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

,

Petra Verhoef

¹Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

²Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen, The Netherlands

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. High homocysteine might affect the endothelium, and consequently lead to impaired haemostasis. In a randomized placebo controlled trial among 276 older adults with plasma total homocysteine concentrations above 13 mM at screening, we investigated the effect of homocysteine lowering by folic acid supplementation (0.8 mg/day) for 1 year on markers of endothelial function (vonWillebrand factor), coagulation (tissue factor, factor VIIa, fragments 1+2), and fibrinolysis (fibrin degradation products, tissue-type plasminogen activator), and inflammation (C-reactive protein). Despite a 24% reduction in plasma homocysteine concentration and four-fold increase in serum folate concentration in the folic acid group compared to the placebo group, there was no clear change in any of the haemostasis markers, nor CRP. Although homocysteine is associated with vascular disease risk in the general population, marked lowering of slightly elevated homocysteine concentrations by one-year folic acid supplementation does not influence haemostasis markers.

Keywords

Homocysteine - folic acid - haemostasis - homocysteine - intervention

Full Text

References

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