Abstract
Homocysteine appears to be causally related to cardiovascular disease and shown to induce endothelial dysfunction. An adverse effect on large elastic arteries has not been reported. In 18 healthy middle-aged subjects, systemic arterial compliance (SAC) was measured over 5 h after a standard methionine load. Arterial pressure waves from the carotid artery and aortic flow were measured non-invasively and SAC calculated. Differences in mean SAC values when plasma homocysteine concentrations were raised with a methionine containing meal and on another day when a control meal was eaten were highly significant. SAC fell (arterial stiffness increased) by 22% at 2.5 h and by 19% at 5 h (treatment×time interaction: P=0.003 and 0.004, respectively). Adjustment for confounders (age, arterial pressure, BMI, LDL cholesterol) did not affect conclusions. Thus, arterial stiffness in the central elastic arterial system increased rapidly at high plasma homocysteine concentrations.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.