• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2014

Objectives : Homocysteine has been associated with cognitive impairment and various psychiatric symptoms. This study was designed to examine the relationship exists between plasma homocysteine concentration and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD). Methods : 41 subjects with dementia of Alzheimer's type were included in this study. We carried out history taking, physical examination, and cognitive assessment for the diagnosis of dementia of Alzheimer's type based on DSM-IV. We scored the Mini Mental State Examination(MMSE), Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR), and the Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory(K-NPI). We also measured levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin $B_{12}$ in the plasma. Results : We found statistically significant positive correlations between homocysteine concentration with NPI total score, and with scores of several sub-domains such as delusion, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, and elation/euphoria. No significant correlation existed between homocysteine levels and scores of MMSE, GDS, and CDR. Conclusions : This study shows that plasma homocysteine levels are associated with BPSD. Further research is necessary to identify pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying these relationships.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2009

Objectives: We tried to clarify the relationship between lifestyle and plasma homocysteine concentration. We analyzed the data of patients with acute ischemic stroke from the Hanbang stroke registry supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea. Methods: 458 subjects were recruited from the patients admitted to the Internal Medical Department of Kyunghee University oriental medical center, Dongguk University Ilsan oriental medical center, Kyungwon University Songpa oriental medical center and Kyungwon University Incheon oriental medical center from April 2007 to August 2008. We divided the subjects into four groups by quartiles of plasma homocysteine concentrations and compared the first and last quartile groups. Results: 1. In univariate analysis, the high homocysteine concentration group showed higher rate of older age, male gender, smoking, drinking and lower values in vitamin B12, folic acid, creatinine than the control group with statistical significance. 2. In multivariate analysis, older age, male gender smoking and folic acid showed a close relationship with statistical significance (each OR=3.620, OR=4.218, OR=3.558, OR=0.789). Conclusions: According to the analysis, the relationship between high homocysteine concentration and smoking in patients with acute ischemic stroke were clarified. We hope to standardize and establish criteria on homocysteine in Korea by large epidemiological survey. These study results could be utilized in the future as a basis material.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2005

Total homocysteine is now considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. I increased interest has led to a multitude of studies requiring the determination of total homocysteine in conjunction with other factor. There are various methods for measuring total homocysteine, including HPLC, FPIA, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS. The most recent method for measuring total homocysteine uses a deuterium-labelled internal standard and tandem mass spectrometry. This development requires no derivatization and therefore leads to an increase in sample throughput compared to other techniques. We have evaluated the method for homocysteine by the LC-MS/MS method, and the correlation between the FPIA method and the LC-MS/MS method. The standard curve (0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 uM) was linear over the range examined (up to 100 uM). The lower limit of quantification (CV < 10 %) was 0.5 uM/L and the lower limit of detection (S/N >3) was 0.1 uM/L. Intra-assay variation and inter-assay variation were both <6 %. The comparision study for homocysteine concentration showed good correlation (r=0.9684) between the FPIA method and LC-MS/MS methods. Our conclusion is that the method showed relatively good precision, and was rapid and accurate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.264-273
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• 2006

Elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Serum homocysteine levels may be affected by the MTHFR genotypes and the nutritional status of B vitamins including vitamin $B_2,\;B_6$, folate and vitamin $B_{12}$. We investigated whether postnatal growth measurements were influenced by maternal MTHFR genotypes and their mid-pregnancy serum vitamin B and homocysteine levels. In 130 pregnant women of 24-28 wks of gestation, the MTHFR genotypes, serum B vitamins and homocysteine concentrations were analyzed. Physical growth status was assessed in their offsprings by measuring height, weight, and head and chest circumferences from birth up to 24 months. Serum homocysteine levels were higher in the subjects with T/T genotype than those with the C/T or C/C. Heights and head and chest circumferences of offsprings from the T/T mothers were significantly lower than those from the C/C or C/T mothers only when the serum homocysteine levels were above the median. The mean height of offsprings from the T/T mothers was significantly lower than those from the C/C and C/T mothers. The mean weight and head circumferences of offsprings born from the mothers whose mid-term pregnancy PLP levels were in the lowest quartile was significantly lower than those from mothers in the highest quartile. Heights and head circumferences of offsprings from the T/T mothers were significantly lower than those from the C/C or C/T mothers only when the serum FAD levels were in the lowest quartile. These results suggest that postnatal growth up to 24 months may be influenced by the maternal C677T MTHFR genotypes, and mid-pregnancy serum homocysteine and vitamin B status.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to provide a reference range for plasma homocysteine and to explore the relation between plasma homocysteine and nutritional indexes in a Korean college women. Thirty women were selected from college students in Seoul area With mean age of 22.4y. Dietary intakes of Vitamins B$_{6}$, B$_{12}$, folate were estimated from a 3 day food diary method and plasma homocysteine concentration was mearsured as well as the levels of blood vitamins. The results obtained are as follows. Mean daily intake of energy, vitamin B$_{6}$, B$_{12}$, and folate were 1731.9kcal, 0.9mg, 2.2mg and 139.8$\mu\textrm{g}$ respectively. Mean plasma homocysteine concentration was 12.4$\mu$mol/l with a range between 6.7 and 17.8$\mu$mol/l and the mean concentrations of plasma vitamin B$_{6}$(PLP), serum vitamin $_{12}$, Serum folate and RBC folate were 77.5nmol/l, 267.4pmol/l, 17.1 nmol/l and 736.5nmol/l arid 736.5nmol/l respectively. we found a negative correlation between plasma homocysteine concentration and dietary vitamins, and blood levels of vitamin although it was not significant.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.720-721
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• 2023

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.168-173
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• 2011

Objective: To examine the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and hyperhomocysteinemia in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages (RM) and to investigate the association between MTHFR genotype variants and alloimmune activation, proportion of peripheral blood natural killer (pbNK) cells. Methods: A total of 39 patients with a history of two or more unexplained miscarriages were recruited to this study. The controls were women who had a live birth without a history of RM (n=50). The proportion of pbNK cells was measured by flow cytometry. Plasma homocysteine levels and the incidence of the MTHFR variant of the RM and control groups were compared. The proportion of pbNK cells was compared to the MTHFR variants in the RM group. Results: No differences were found between the two groups' mean plasma homocysteine levels ($7.6{\pm}1.5{\mu}mol$/L vs. $7.1{\pm}2.1{\mu}mol$/L) or incidence of the MTHFR genotype variant (CC, 35% vs. 33%; CT, 40% vs. 53%; and TT, 25% vs. 14%). In the RM group, individuals with the TT variant ($7.7{\pm}1.1{\mu}mol$/L) had higher homocysteine levels than those with the CC and CT variants ($7.4{\pm}1.9{\mu}mol$/L and $7.4{\pm}1.2{\mu}mol$/L) and those with the CT variant ($19.2{\pm}8.1%$) had a higher proportion of CD3-/CD56+ pbNK cells than those with the CC and TT variants ($17.7{\pm}6.6%$ and $17.9{\pm}7.0%$), but the results of both comparisons were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: These preliminary results show no difference in plasma homocysteine levels between the RM and control groups or among MTHFR genotype variants in the RM group, which may suggest that the plasma homocysteine level is difficult to use as a predictive marker of RM in the Korean population. A study of a larger number of patients is needed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2007

This study assessed folate intakes, folate concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration, and urinary excretion of folate metabolites in Korean women with childbearing potential. A total of 23 women voluntarily participated in this study. Precise dietary intakes for 3 consecutive days were determined by weighing all foods consumed and folate intake was calculated using a computer-aided dietary analysis system. Folate concentration of plasma and erythrocytes was determined by a microbiological method. Plasma tHcy concentration was assayed using an HPLC analysis method. Urine excreted over the same period of time was collected and folate catabolites, para-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG) and para-acetamidobenzoylglutamate (ApABG), were evaluated using a reverse-phase HPLC method after affinity chromatography. Young women of 20 and under were likely to consume less folate with low energy intake, had lower folate concentration in plasma and erythrocytes, and excreted a lesser amount of ApABG and total folate catabolites than women of 25 years and over. The results of this study confirmed that young Korean women with childbearing potential, especially those under 21 years of age, might be at risk for compromised folate status due to insufficient folate intakes from inadequate energy consumption.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1175-1181
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of green vegetable (kale) juice powder supple-mentation on lipid profiles, plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ in rats fed cholesterol (Chol. ) or Chol. free diet. 7-week old male Sprague Dawley rats (n=40) were divided into 4 groups, and experimental diets containing control diet group (CO), control diet plus 0.5 wt$ \% $ Chol. (CC), control diet added with 5 wt$ \% $ kale (KO), control diet added with 5 wt$ \% $ kale plus 0.5 wt$ \% $ Chol. (KC) were fed for 8 wks. Plasma homocysteine level was examined by amino acid analyzer and serum folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ level were measured by com-petitive radioimmunoassay methods. In various serum lipid profiles, TG level was lower in kale juice powder groups (KO, KC) compared to the corresponding groups (CO, CC) (p<0.001). In Chol. supplemented groups (CC, KC), HDL-Chol. level was lower (p<0.001) and LDL-Chol. level was higher (p<0.05) than Chol. free diet. HDL-Chol. level was higer (p<0.05) in kale juice powder groups. HDL/LDL ratio was lower in Chol. supplemented groups (CC, KC) and tended to be higher in kale juice powder groups (KO, KC) Serum folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ levels were not affected by dietary Chol. and kale juice powder supplementation. Plasma homocysteine level was not affected by dietary Chol. and kale juice powder supplementation, too. Serum folate level was positively correlated with serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level (r=0.5632, p<0.001), but plasma homocysteine level was not significantly correlated with any serum folate, vitamin $B_{12}$ and Chol. levels, respectively. In summary, kale juice powder supplementation have improved serum lipid profiles by increasing the HDL level and decreasing the TG level and have not altered homocysteine level under the sufficient supply of folate and vitamin B complex relating with the homocysteine metabolism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.376-383
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• 1999

The effects of $\beta$-carotene substitutionl for vitamin A and the chronic consumption of ethanol of ethanol on hepatic folate metabolism were studied it rats. The substitution of $\beta$-carotene for vitamin A depressed hepatic 10-formyl-tetreahydrofolate dehydrogenase(10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate : NADP oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.5. 1.6)activity to 65% of controls(p<0.001) and enhanced hepatic 5, 10-methy-lenetetrahydrofolate reductase(E. C. 6.3.3.2)activity by 56% with respect to control levels(p<0.001). Hepatic activity of 10-formyltertrahydrofolate dehydrogenase was depressed to about half that of control levels by ethanol administration to rats(36% ethanol diet, p<0.001). The activity of 5, 10-methyleneterahydrofolate reductase was not changed by ethanol consumption. The increased activity of 5, 10-methyleneterahydrofolate reductase and the decreased activity of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase appeared to decrease the level of nonmethyl folate conezyme and the rate of one-carbon metabolism. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in rats fed ethanol(p<0.01) o $\beta$-carotene(p<0.001) than in controls, which suggests that increased activity of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase can depress homocysteine metabolism. We concluded that dietary substitution of $\beta$-carotene for vitamin A or chronic administration of ethanol resulted in changes in the activity of hepatic folate-dependent enzymes, which could affect the distribution of folate derivatives, plasma homocysteine levels and one-carbon metabolism.