[Serum homocysteine in children and adolescents. Relation with family history of cardiovascular disease].

BACKGROUND

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent cardiovascular risk factor that depends on folate and vitamin B12 nutrition.

AIM

To measure homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 serum levels in healthy children with and without a family history of cardiovascular disease.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty children aged 6 to 15 years with a family history of cardiovascular disease, and 40 age and sex matched children without such history were studied. Serum homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured in a fasting blood sample. Homocysteine was measured by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), vitamin B12 by enzymatic microparticle assay, covered with intrinsic factor and folic acid by ionic capture, using commercial kits.

RESULTS

Children with family history of cardiovascular disease had higher homocysteine levels than their counterparts without family history (7.9 +/- 3 and 5.8 +/- 2 mumol/l respectively, p < 0.03), but similar folic acid (5.2 +/- 1.8 and 5.5 +/- 1.4 pg/ml respectively) and vitamin B12 levels (431 +/- 213 and 445 +/- 209 ng/ml respectively). There was a negative and significant correlation between homocysteine and folic acid and vitamin B12 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with a family history of cardiovascular disease have higher levels of serum homocysteine than those without such history, despite having similar levels of folic acid and vitamin B12.