Korean J Nutr.  2010 Oct;43(5):443-452. 10.4163/kjn.2010.43.5.443.

Relationships of Plasma Homocysteine Concentration and Oxidative Stress Markers in Korean Collage Students

• Kim JS
• Park E
• Min H
• Kang MH

• KMID: 2268042
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2010.43.5.443

Abstract

Elevated plasma concentration of total homocysteine (ptHcy) is known as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and oxidative stress is also commonly implicated in CVD. An association between ptHcy and oxidative stress has recently been suggested. The study objective is to examine the relationship between ptHcy and oxidative stress markers in 103 healthy college students (62 males and 41 females). Plasma levels of ptHcy, oxidative stress markers (conjugated diene, erythrocyte catalase, TRAP, lymphocyte DNA damage), antioxidant vitamins (alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, carotenoids), and lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol) were determined. The results show that the concentration of ptHcy was significantly higher in male subjects (22.17 +/- 2.14 micromole/L) than in female subjects (12.28 +/- 0.45 micromole/L). There was a negative association between ptHcy and plasma beta-carotene in male subjects (p < 0.05), but no correlation between ptHcy and other plasma antioxidant vitamin levels in either gender. However, there were the negative correlations between ptHcy and plasma alpha-carotene or beta-carotene, and a positive correlation between ptHcy and lymphocyte DNA damage. A significantly low level of alpha-carotene or beta-carotene was found in male subjects with elevated ptHcy (> or = 15 micromol/L), as compared to those with lower plasma homocysteine. These study results confirmed the views on the association between plasma homocysteine and oxidative stress markers in humans and support the hypothesis that homocysteine promotes the oxidative environment by counteracting the antioxidant defense mechanism.

Keyword

plasma homocysteine; oxidative stress; plasma beta-carotene; lymphocyte DNA damage; college students

MeSH Terms

beta Carotene
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotenoids
Catalase
Cholesterol
DNA
DNA Damage
Erythrocytes
Female
gamma-Tocopherol
Homocysteine
Humans
Lymphocytes
Male
Oxidative Stress
Plasma
Risk Factors
Vitamins
Carotenoids
Catalase
Cholesterol
DNA
Homocysteine
Vitamins
beta Carotene
gamma-Tocopherol

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