Homocysteine levels in elderly Spanish people: influence of pyridoxine, vitamin B12 and folic acid intakes.

BACKGROUND: Serum homocysteine levels are a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Knowledge on how dietary factors might affect these levels is therefore of interest. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum homocysteine levels in agroup of elderly people and analyse the effect of pyridoxine, vitamin B12 and folic acid intakes on these levels. DESIGN: The study subjects were 130 independently-living elderly people over the age of 65. A dietetic study was performed using a 7-day food record. Serum homocysteine levels were determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Mean pyridoxine, vitamin B 1 2 and folate intakes were 67.2′16.8%, 392.8′549.2% and 84.5′28.3% of recommended values respectively. With regard to sex, differences were seen only for vitamin B 1 2 intake (9.1′12.7 μg/day in men, and 6.5′8.8 μg/day in women). Some 93.6% of subjects showed pyridoxine intakes below those recommended, as did 17.6% with respect to vitamin B 1 2 and 72.8% with respect to folic acid. Homocysteine levels were 12.4 μmol/l (12.6′3.7 μmol/l in men and 12.2′7.9 μmol/l in women) (P<0.05). No significant differences were seen in homocysteine levels between subjects with lower than recommended intakes of pyridoxine or vitamin B 1 2 and those with better intakes. However, subjects with folic acid intakes below 200 μg/day showed higher homocysteine levels (13.0′6.7 μmol/l) than did subjects with more adequate intakes (10.9′4.1 μmol/l) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The diet of the study subjects might be improved, especially with respect to pyridoxine and folic acid. Raising the intake of the latter might be especially useful in controlling homocysteine levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease.