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Department of Internal Medicine, Broussais Hospital, APHP, Paris, France.
Correspondence: Dr Jacques Blacher, Hôpital Broussais, Service de
Médecine Interne, 96, rue Didot, 75014 Paris, France. Tel: 33143959117,
Fax: 33145433894 o email: jacques.blacher@brs.ap-hop-paris.fr
Abstract: Although there is considerable epidemiological evidence for
a relationship between plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular disease,
the role of homocysteine as a causal cardiovascular risk factor remains
controversial. While results from high risk population based prospective
studies generally support an association of elevated homocysteine levels
with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, results from low risk population
based prospective studies, however, tend to indicate a weaker association,
or none at all. There is not yet any proof of a cardiovascular benefit
mediated by folic acid plus B vitamins supplementation; nevertheless,
some recent reports focusing on intermediate endpoints support the hypothesis
of a benefit. Several interventional trials are underway and the answer
of whether there is a cardiovascular benefit through folic acid plus B
vitamins supplementation in different populations will be available in
the years to come.
Key words: Homocysteine, cardiovascular diseases, epidemiology, risk
factor, folic acid, B vitamins.
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