2nd Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Medicine, Ahepa General Hospital, Greece.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2010 Feb;61(1):11-7. doi: 10.3109/09637480903286371.
Hyperhomocysteinemia is emerging as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and hypertension among children. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of oral folic acid on homocysteine and blood pressure. Folic acid supplementation has been found to reduce homocysteine levels and in some cases blood pressure. Five hundred and twenty children participated in the study, and 26 of them were found to be hyperhomocysteinemic; 20 of these children randomly received 5 mg oral folic acid supplement while the other six children were the controls. Serum homocysteine (P < 0.001) levels as well as systolic (P < 0.001) and diastolic (P = 0.045) blood pressure were statistically significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the controls, while folic acid levels were statistically significantly increased (P < 0.001). Total serum homocysteine levels were correlated with age, serum folate, body mass index, and blood pressure. It appears that folic acid may be a safe and effective supplement to reduce homocysteine and possibly blood pressure, which consequently may prevent cardiovascular disease in children in early life.
高同型半胱氨酸血症正成为儿童心血管疾病和高血压的一个独立预测因子。本研究旨在探讨口服叶酸对同型半胱氨酸和血压的影响。叶酸补充已被发现可降低同型半胱氨酸水平，在某些情况下还可降低血压。520 名儿童参与了这项研究，其中 26 名儿童被发现患有高同型半胱氨酸血症；其中 20 名儿童随机接受 5 毫克口服叶酸补充剂，而另外 6 名儿童为对照组。与对照组相比，干预组血清同型半胱氨酸（P < 0.001）水平以及收缩压（P < 0.001）和舒张压（P = 0.045）均显著降低，而叶酸水平显著升高（P < 0.001）。总血清同型半胱氨酸水平与年龄、血清叶酸、体重指数和血压相关。叶酸可能是一种安全有效的补充剂，可降低同型半胱氨酸水平，可能降低血压，从而预防儿童早期的心血管疾病。
