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Homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine in relation to B vitamins in elderly people

Homocystein und asymmetrisches Dimethylarginin unter Berücksichtigung von B-Vitaminen bei älteren Menschen

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Zusammenfassung

ZIELSETZUNG: Homocystein ist ein kardiovakulärer Risikofaktor, dessen Metabolismus von bestimmten B-Vitaminen beeinflusst und der mit dem Auftreten endothelialer Dysfunktion assoziiert wird. Diese ist möglicherweise auf die verringerte NO-Bioverfügbarkeit, bedingt durch eine Homocystein-induzierte Akkumulation von asymmetrischem Dimethylarginin (ADMA), zurückzuführen. Basierend auf diesem Hintergrund war es Ziel der vorliegenden Studie, die kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren Homocystein und ADMA unter Berücksichtigung der Vitamine B6, B12 und Folat bei älteren Menschen zu untersuchen. METHODEN: Es wurden insgesamt 102 Probanden rekrutiert und in drei Altersgruppen eingeteilt: A (70–74J, n = 48), B (75–79J, n = 35) und C (≥80J, n = 19). Die Plasmaspiegel an Vitamin B6 und Homocystein wurden mittels HPLC, jene an Vitamin B12 und Folat mittels RIA analysiert. Die Plasmakonzentrationen an ADMA wurden mittels ELISA bestimmt. RESULTATE: Die Plasmaspiegel an Vitamin B6, B12 und Folat konnten bei 93 %, 67 % bzw. 55 % der Studienteilnehmer als adäquat eingestuft werden. Mit zunehmendem Alter zeigte sich eine signifikante Verringerung der Vitaminspiegel (B6: A > B, A > C: p < 0,05; B12 und Folat: A > C: p < 0,05), welche von einem Anstieg der kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren Homocystein (A < C, B < C: p < 0,05) und ADMA (A < B: p < 0,05; A < C: p < 0,001) begleitet wurde. Weiters wurden signifikant (p < 0,01) negative Korrelationen zwischen Homocystein und Vitamin B6, B12 und Folat, sowie eine signifikant positive Assoziation zwischen Homocystein und ADMA erfasst (p < 0,01). SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Die signifikante Korrelation zwischen Homocystein und ADMA könnte ein wichtiger Mechanismus sein, der zu einer reduzierten NO-Bioverfügbarkeit und somit zur endothelialen Dysfunktion beiträgt. Basierend auf der signifikanten Beziehung zwischen Vitamin B6, B12 und Folat und dem Homocysteinspiegel, könnten diese Vitamine indirekt einen Einfluss auf die Endothelfunktion und somit das kardiovaskuläre Risiko bei älteren Menschen nehmen.

Summary

OBJECTIVE: Homocysteine is a cardiovascular risk factor, its metabolism is influenced by certain B vitamins and it is associated with endothelial dysfunction probably due to impaired bioavailability of NO caused by homocysteine-induced accumulation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase. On this basis, we investigated the cardiovascular risk factors homocysteine and ADMA in relation to vitamins B6, B12 and folate in elderly people. METHODS: A total of 102 subjects were recruited and divided into three groups according to age: A (70–74y, n = 48), B (75–79y, n = 35) and C (≥80y, n = 19). Plasma levels of vitamin B6 were determined with HPLC, vitamin B12 and folate by RIA. Plasma concentrations of homocysteine were analyzed with HPLC and levels of ADMA were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Plasma levels of vitamins B6, B12 and folate were found to be adequate in 93, 67 and 55% of participants, respectively. This study showed a significant age-associated decrease in vitamins B6 (A > B, A > C: p < 0.05), B12 and folate (A > C: p < 0.05) in parallel to a significant age-related increase in the cardiovascular risk factors homocysteine (A < C, B < C: p < 0.05) and ADMA (A < B: p < 0.05; A < C: p < 0.001). Moreover, homocysteine was significantly negatively (p < 0.01) related to vitamins B6, B12 and folate, and significantly positively (p < 0.01) correlated to ADMA. CONCLUSIONS: The significant correlation between homocysteine and ADMA observed in this study may be an important mechanism decreasing NO bioavailability and so causing endothelial dysfunction. Due to the significant relation of vitamins B6, B12 and folate to plasma homocysteine, these vitamins may thus indirectly influence endothelial function and cardiovascular risk in elderly people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Elisabeth Fabian, Andrea Kickinger, Karl-Heinz Wagner & Ibrahim Elmadfa

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  1. Elisabeth Fabian
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  2. Andrea Kickinger
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  3. Karl-Heinz Wagner
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  4. Ibrahim Elmadfa
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Correspondence to Elisabeth Fabian.

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Fabian, E., Kickinger, A., Wagner, KH. et al. Homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine in relation to B vitamins in elderly people. Wien Klin Wochenschr 123, 496–501 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-011-0002-3

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