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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187379
Title: PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE AND CAROTID ARTERY INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS: SITE-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS IN THE FRAMINGHAM OFFSPRING COHORT

Author
item DIETRICH, MARION - TUFTS/HNRCA
item Jacques, Paul
item POLAK, JOSEPH - TUFTS-N.E. MEDICAL CTR
item PENCINA, MICHAEL - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item EVANS, JANE - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item Selhub, Jacob
item VASAN, RAMACHANDRAN - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item D'AGOSTINO, RALPH - BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2006
Publication Date: 4/1/2006
Citation: Dietrich, M., Jacques, P., Polak, J., Pencina, M., Evans, J., Selhub, J., Vasan, R., D'Agostino, R. 2006. Plasma Homocysteine and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness: Site-Specific Associations in the Framingham Offspring cohort. Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology. Abstract no. 660.9.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHCY) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, is typically measured at the internal carotid artery including the bulb (ICA), and the common carotid artery (CCA). No prior investigation has compared the relations of tHCY to ICA-IMT vs. CCA-IMT. The purpose of this study was to identify segment-specific (ICA-IMT vs. CCA--IMT) associations of plasma tHCY in a community-based sample. We examined the cross-sectional relations of tHCY to ICA-IMT and CCA-IMT in 2254 participants (1,391 women) from the Framingham Offspring Study free of overt cardiovascular disease. CCA- and ICA-IMT were measured at the 6th examination cycle (1996-1998). Plasma tHCY was measured at the 5th examination cycle (1992-1995; before mandatory folate fortification). Analyses were stratified by age (< vs. >/= 54 years). The study showed that in linear regression models adjusting for age, BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), BP-lowering medications, smoking, ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, diabetes, creatinine, and hormone replacement therapy, tHCY was positively associated with ICA-IMT in both sexes >/= 54 yrs (P<0.05). tHCY was not associated with CCA-IMT in either gender in any age group. We observed site- and age-specific associations of tHCY with carotid atherosclerosis.