Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Asymptomatic Mongolian middle-aged women with high homocysteine blood level and atherosclerotic disease

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Heart and Vessels Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Growing numbers of studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been found to be negatively associated with the vitamin B group, especially folate and cobalamin. Because of the relative scarcity of fruits and vegetables in Mongolian foods, and the high cardiovascular diseases rate in Mongolia, we examined homocysteine level and its relation with atherosclerotic change in middle-aged Mongolian women. This cross-sectional study included 79 female asymptomatic residents of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Besides analysis of homocysteine and chemistry tests, participants were interviewed and underwent physical and Doppler ultrasound examination of extracranial vessels. The mean homocysteine level was 9.87 ± 3.6 μmol/l, and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were 2.2 μmol/l and 19.9 μmol/l. Participants with abnormal Doppler ultrasound finding had significantly higher homocysteine levels (12.8 ± 4.5 μmol/l vs 8.7 ± 2.3 μmol/l, P < 0.001) and homocysteine was significantly associated with having atherosclerotic change (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.42–3.49, P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, low-density lipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index. Hyperhomocysteinemia was found to be significantly associated with atherosclerotic change in female Mongolian adults. Further studies are necessary to determine factors associated with homocysteine elevation among the Mongolian population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization (2007) Country health information profiles. pp 227–243

  2. Selhub J, Jacques PF, Bostom AG (1995) Association between plasma homocysteine concentrations and extracranial carotidartery stenosis. N Engl J Med 332:286–291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Asfar S, Safar HA (2007) Homocysteine levels and peripheral arterial occlusive disease: a prospective cohort study and review of the literature. J Cardiovasc Surg 48:601–605

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Barutcu I, Sezgin AT, Sezgin N, Gullu H, Esen AM, Topal E, Ozdemir R (2005) Elevated plasma homocysteine level in slow coronary flow. Int J Cardiol 101:143–145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Tanriverdi H, Evrengul H, Mergen H, Acar C, Seleci D, Kuru O, Tanriverdi S, Kaftan A (2007) Early sign of atherosclerosis in slow coronary flow and relationship with angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism. Heart Vessels 22:1–8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nabipour I, Vahdat K, Jafari SM, Amiri M, Shafeiae E, Riazi A, Amini AL, Pazoki R, Sanjdideh Z (2007) Correlation of hyperhomocysteinaemia and Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG seropositivity with coronary artery disease in a general population. Heart Lung Circ 16:416–422

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Baccarelli A, Zanobetti A, Martinelli I, Grillo P, Hou L, Lanzani G, Mannucci PM, Bertazzi PA, Schwartz J (2007) Air pollution, smoking, and plasma homocysteine. Environ Health Perspect 115:176–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Zamani A, Omrani GR, Lankarani KB (2003) Hyperhomocysteinaemia, hyperlipidaemia and risk of venous thromboembolism in Shiraz. East Mediterr Health J 9:935–943

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Derosa G, D’Angelo A, Scalise F, Avanzini MA, Tinelli C, Peros E, Fogari E, Cicero AFG (2007) Comparison between metalloproteinases-2 and -9 in healthy subjects, diabetics, and subjects with acute coronary syndrome. Heart Vessels 22:361–370

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Allen RH, Stabler SP, Savage DG (1994). Metabolic abnormalities in cobalamin (vitamin-B12) and folate deficiency. FASEB J 7: 1344–1353

    Google Scholar 

  11. Doshi SN, McDowell IF, Moat SJ, Lang D, Newcombe RG, Kredan MB, Lewis MJ, Goodfellow J (2001) Folate improves endothelial function in coronary artery disease: an effect mediated by reduction of intracellular superoxide? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 21:1196–1202

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Doshi SN, Moat SJ, McDowell IF, Lewis MJ, Goodfellow J (2002) Lowering plasma homocysteine with folic acid in cardiovascular disease: what will the trials tell us? Atherosclerosis 165:1–3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Durand P, Prost M, Loreau N, Lussier-Cacan S, Blache D (2001) Impaired homocysteine metabolism and atherothrombotic disease. Lab Invest 81:645–672

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ministry of Health (2006) Mongolian Steps Survey on the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

  15. Rasmussen K, Møller J (2000). Total homocysteine determination in clinical practice. Ann Clin Biochem 37:627–648

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Refsum H, David Smith, Ueland PM, Nexo E, Clarke R, McPartlin J, Johnston C, Engbaek F, Schneede J, McPartlin C, Scott JM (2004) Facts and recommendations about total homocysteine determinations: an expert opinion. Clin Chem 50:13–32

    Google Scholar 

  17. Martens GA, De Nayer J, De Smet D, Couck P, Gorus F, Gerlo E (2008) Homocysteine measurement by Vitros Microtip homocysteine assay. Clin Chem Lab Med 46:283–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Naess IA, Christiansen SC, Romundstad PR, Cannegieter SC, Blom HJ, Rosendaal FR, Hammerstrøm J (2008) Prospective study of homocysteine and MTHFR 677TT genotype and risk for venous thrombosis in a general population — results from the HUNT 2 study. Br J Haematol 141:529–535

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Jacobsen DW (1998) Homocysteine and vitamins in cardiovascular disease. Clin Chem 44:1833–1843

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Adachi H, Hirai Y, Fujiura Y, Matsuoka H, Satoh A, Imaizumi T (2002) Plasma homocysteine levels and atherosclerosis in Japan epidemiological study by use of carotid ultrasonography. Stroke 33:2177–2181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hao L, Ma J, Zhu J, Stampfer MJ, Tian Y, Willett WC, Li Z (2007) High prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in Chinese adults is associated with low folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 status. J Nutr 137:407–413

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Nguyen P, Grajeda R, Melgar P, Marcinkevage J, Flores R, Martorell R (2008) Weekly may be as efficacious as daily folic acid supplementation in improving folate status and lowering serum homocysteine concentrations in Guatemalan women. J Nutr 138:1491–1498

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ganji V, Kafai MR (2006) Population reference values for plasma total homocysteine concentrations in US adults after the fortification of cereals with folic acid. Am J Clin Nutr 84:989–994

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Jacques PF, Rosenberg IH, Rogers G, Selhub J, Bowman BA, Gunter EW (1999) Serum total homocysteine concentrations in adolescent and adult Americans: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Clin Nutr 69:482–489

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Nygård O, Refsum H, Ueland PM, Vollset SE (1998) Major lifestyle determinants of plasma total homocysteine distribution: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study. Am J Clin Nutr 67:263–270

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. de Bree A, Verschuren WM, Blom HJ, Kromhout D (2001) Association between B vitamin intake and plasma homocysteine concentration in the general Dutch population aged 20-65 y. Am J Clin Nutr 73:1027–1033

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Snehalatha C, Ramachandran A, Satyavani K, Sivasankari S, Sathyamurthy I, Viswanathan V (2002) Plasma homocysteine concentration and coronary artery disease in Asian Indians. J Assoc Physicians India 50:1229–1231

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Durand P, Lussier-Cacan S, Blache D (1997) Acute methionine load-induced hyperhomocysteinemia enhances platelet aggregation, thromboxane biosynthesis, and macrophage-derived tissue factor activity in rats. FASEB J 11:1157–1168

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Erjen D, Tserendolgor U, Oyunchimeg D, Batjargal J, Enkhtungalag B, Byambatogtokh B (2002) Nutritional status of the population assessed by nutrition assessment criteria. Annual Research Result Book, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Google Scholar 

  30. Bolormaa N, Enkhtungalag B, Erjen D, Nyamdavaa N (2002) Diet and nutrition prevention for cancer of gastrointestinal tract. Annual Research Result Book, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Google Scholar 

  31. Okamura T, Hayakawa T, Kadowaki T, Kita Y, Okayama A, Elliott P, Ueshima H, for the NIPPON DATA80 Research Group (2004) A combination of serum low albumin and above-average cholesterol level was associated with excess mortality. J Clin Epidemiol 57:1188–1195

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Schalk BWM, Visser M, Bremmer MA, Penninx BWJH, Bouter LM, Deeg DJH (2006) Change of serum albumin and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Am J Epidemiol 164:969–977

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Bourdon E, Loreau N, Lagrost L, Blache D (2005) Differential effects of cysteine and methionine residues in the antioxidant activity of human serum albumin. Free Radic Res 39:15–20

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Enebish D, Enkhbat E (2002) Lipid group test. Biochemistry test result, Medical Science University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, pp 85–116

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Health Program, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Khurelbaatar Mungun-Ulzii

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Disease, The Shastin Central Hospital, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Khurelbaatar Mungun-Ulzii

  3. Pathophysiology Department, School of Bio-Medicine, Health Sciences University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Nansalmaa Erdenekhuu

  4. Department of Neurology, The Shastin Central Hospital, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Purev Altantsetseg

  5. Department of Cardiology, Health Sciences University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Dandii Zulgerel

  6. Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong Street, Taipei, 112, Taiwan

    Song-Lih Huang

Authors
  1. Khurelbaatar Mungun-Ulzii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nansalmaa Erdenekhuu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Purev Altantsetseg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dandii Zulgerel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Song-Lih Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Song-Lih Huang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mungun-Ulzii, K., Erdenekhuu, N., Altantsetseg, P. et al. Asymptomatic Mongolian middle-aged women with high homocysteine blood level and atherosclerotic disease. Heart Vessels 25, 7–13 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-009-1156-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-009-1156-z

Key words

Search

Navigation