Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial dysfunction in renal transplant recipients with B vitamins in the Chinese population

Abstract

Purpose: We studied the efficacy of B vitamins as a treatment for hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial dysfunction in renal transplant recipients in the Chinese population.

Materials and methods: A total of 36 stable renal transplant recipients with hyperhomocysteinemia were randomly assigned to folate treatment (5 mg folic acid per day, 50 mg vitamin B6 per day and 1,000 microg vitamin B12 per day) or to the control group (placebo only) for 6 months. All subjects underwent tests for creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, average blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting homocysteine. Endothelial function was evaluated using high resolution vascular ultrasound.

Results: Homocysteine significantly decreased in those with folate treatment after intervention compared with baseline (12.6 +/- 3.9 vs 20.1 +/- 5.4 micromol/l, t = 5.3, p <0.01), whereas no significant changes were observed in controls. In the folate treatment group endothelium dependent and independent vasodilatation responses significantly increased after intervention (12.2% +/- 4.6% vs 8.8% +/- 5.2%, t = 2.9, p <0.01 and 17.6% +/- 3.9% vs 12.2% +/- 4.7%, t = 3.4, p <0.01, respectively). However, no significant changes were observed in controls. Endothelium dependent and independent vasodilatation responses were significantly lower in controls compared to levels in the folate group after treatment (8.7% +/- 6.3%, t = 2.8, p <0.01 and 12.2% +/- 5.3%, t = 3.5, p <0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: Based on these data B vitamin supplementation may decrease blood homocysteine and improve endothelial function in renal transplant recipients with hyperhomocysteinemia.