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FOR THE PRESS
7 September 1999 Annals of Internal Medicine Tip Sheet
Annals of Internal Medicine is published by the American
College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine
(ACP-ASIM), an organization of more than 115,000 physicians trained
in internal medicine. The following highlights are not intended to
substitute for articles as sources of information. For a copy of an
article, call 1-800-523-1546, ext. 2656 or 215-351-2656.
A New Medical Frontier?
Lowering Your
Homocysteine Level May Help Reduce Risk for Heart
Disease
It's well known that stopping smoking and lowering cholesterol
level and high blood pressure help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Studies have shown that a high level of homocysteine, an amino
acid, in the blood is associated with cardiovascular risk. Other
studies have shown that high homocysteine levels can be lowered by
simple, inexpensive therapy with folic acid as well as with
vitamins B6 and B12. Does lowering the homocysteine level therefore
reduce risk for heart disease? Seven large randomized clinical
trials currently in progress may answer this question. Meanwhile,
seven selections in the Sept. 7 issue of Annals explore what is
known about the tantalizing relationship between homocysteine,
vitamins and cardiovascular risk.
An editorial
concludes that high-risk persons with elevated plasma homocysteine
levels should probably take folic acid supplements, and the rest of
us should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, good sources of
folic acid, "just as our parents always told us."
Contents
- Homocyst(e)ine and Cardiovascular Disease: A Critical Review
of the Epidemiologic Evidence (Review, p. 363)
- Potential New Cardiovascular Risk Factors (Review, p.
376)
- Nonfasting Plasma Total Homocysteine Level and Mortality in
Middle-aged and Elderly Men and Women in Jerusalem (Article, p. 321)
- Population Reference Ranges and Contribution of Vitamin
Status to High Serum Concentrations (Article, p. 331)
- Normalization of Hyperhomocysteinemia with L-Thyroxine in
Hypothyroidism (Brief Communication, p. 348)
- Nonfasting Plasma Total Homocysteine Levels and Stroke
Incidence in Elderly Persons: The Framingham Study (Brief Communication, p.
352)
- Homocysteine in Health and Disease (Editorial, p. 387)
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