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Homocysteine and Folate Status in Octogenarians and Centenarians in Georgia
Author(s) -
Hausman Dorothy Bouillon,
Johnson Mary Ann,
Davey Adam,
Poon Leonard W,
Allen Robert H,
Stabler Sally P
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.93.2
Subject(s) - centenarian , hyperhomocysteinemia , homocysteine , vitamin b12 , medicine , logistic regression , population , gerontology , physiology , environmental health
To test the hypotheses that homocysteine (Hcy) and folate status would be 1) poorer in a population‐based multi‐ethnic sample of centenarians as compared with octogenarians and 2) associated with specific dietary, demographic and physiological factors, serum Hcy and plasma and red blood cell folate were measured in men and women aged 80 to 89 (octogenarians, n = 77) and 98 and older (centenarians, n = 195) from northern Georgia. Regression analyses were used to examine the association of Hcy status with the variables of interest. As expected, the prevalence of folate deficiency was low overall, yet tended to be higher in centenarians than in octogenarians (6.2% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.076; defined as RBC folate < 317 nmol/L). Also, the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was higher in centenarians than in octogenarians (46.7% vs. 15.6%, p < 0.001; defined as serum Hcy > 13.9 nmol/L). In logistic regression analyses, the probability of having HHcy increased by being a centenarian vs. octogenarian (p < 0.001), and in centenarians the risk was significantly increased by having poor renal function (20‐fold), being vitamin B12 deficient (6‐fold) or not taking a B‐vitamin containing supplement (2‐fold), but was not related to race, gender, or place of residence. Given the many potential adverse consequences of HHcy, efforts are needed to minimize avoidable risk factors such as vitamin B12 deficiency. Supported by 1P01‐AG17553.