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Clinical Trial
. 1999 Aug;29(8):659-62.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1999.00527.x.

Oral folate enhances endothelial function in hyperhomocysteinaemic subjects

Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Oral folate enhances endothelial function in hyperhomocysteinaemic subjects

M F Bellamy et al. Eur J Clin Invest. 1999 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is a risk factor for vascular disease. A postulated mechanism is vascular endothelial damage by homocysteine. Hcy levels are inversely related to blood concentrations of folate and can be lowered by folate supplements. The effect of oral folic acid on endothelial function was investigated in healthy adults with mild hyperhomocysteinaemia.

Patients and methods: Eighteen healthy subjects (Hcy > 13 micromol L-1 at entry), from a screening population of 890 volunteers, were entered into a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of oral folic acid (5 mg daily for six weeks) with a six week interval between treatments. Flow-mediated (endothelium-dependent) and (endothelial-independent) glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-mediated brachial artery dilatation were measured by high resolution wall tracking.

Results: Folate supplementation enhanced endothelium-dependent responses (+0.08 +/- 0.05 vs. +0.04 +/- 0.04 mm, P = 0.015) but endothelium-independent responses (GTN) were unchanged. Folate reduced Hcy (8.7 +/- 2.5 vs. 12.1 +/- 3.6 micromol L-1).

Conclusion: High dose folic acid supplementation enhances endothelium-dependent vascular function and lowers plasma Hcy. This provides preliminary evidence that folate may have beneficial cardiovascular effects in adults with mild hyperhomocysteinaemia.

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Comment in

  • Future for folates in cardiovascular disease.
    Verhaar MC, Rabelink TJ. Verhaar MC, et al. Eur J Clin Invest. 1999 Aug;29(8):657-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1999.00526.x. Eur J Clin Invest. 1999. PMID: 10457147 Review. No abstract available.

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