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Altered Homocysteine Metabolism in Italian Healthy Heavy Smokers
Author(s) -
Bamonti Fabrizia,
Novembrino Cristina,
Maiavacca Rita,
Gregori Dario,
Lonati Silvia,
Schiraldi Gianfranco
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a348
Subject(s) - hyperhomocysteinemia , homocysteine , vitamin b12 , medicine , cobalamin , risk factor , gastroenterology , cigarette smoking , physiology , endocrinology
Cobalamin and/or folate deficit leads to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), an idipendent risk factor for cardiovasular diseases. Also cigarette smoking is cardiovascular risk factor. Sixty one (35 M; aged 40–60 years) residents of Milan, Italy, healthy heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes a day) were evaluated for total plasma homocysteine (tHcy), serum and erythrocyte folate (s‐F and Ery‐F), serum vitamin B 12 (B 12 ) and holotranscobalamin (Holo‐TC, an early marker of B 12 deficiency) levels. All the subjects (none vegetarian) consumed a normal Mediterranean Diet. Student's t test was used for statistical analysis. Our otherwise healthy heavy smokers showed an altered Hcy metabolism: HHcy (>10.5 μM) in 87%, Ery‐F low (<421 nM) in 52.5%, B 12 significantly lower in M than in F and <164 pM in 15%, Holo‐TC below cutoff in 30% of cases. Cigarette number correlated negatively with B 12 and positively with tHcy levels. Our study confirm that Hcy metabolism panel can help early detection of subjects likely to develop several pathological complications and benefit from early tailored treatment.