Abstract
BackgroundHyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with various health problems, but less is known about the gender differences in risk factors for high plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels.MethodsIn this study, a retrospective study was carried out on 14,911 participants (7838 males and 7073 females) aged 16–102 years who underwent routine checkups between January 2012 and December 2017 in the Health Management Department of Xuanwu Hospital, China. Anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio, were collected. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure the biochemical indexes. The outcome variable was Hcy level, and a generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis was used to identify the associations of interest based on gender.ResultsMales exhibited increased Hcy levels (16.37 ± 9.66 vs 11.22 ± 4.76 μmol/L) and prevalence of HHcy (37.0% vs 11.3%) compared with females. Hcy levels and HHcy prevalence increased with age in both genders, except for the 16- to 29-year-old group. GEE analysis indicated that irrespective of gender, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, uric acid, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were positively correlated with Hcy levels, and alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol and glucose were negatively correlated with Hcy levels. However, age, BMI and triglycerides (TGs) were positively correlated with Hcy levels exclusively in females.ConclusionsGender differences in risk factors for high plasma Hcy levels were noted. Although common correlational factors existed in both genders, age, BMI and TGs were independent risk factors for Hcy levels specifically in females.
Highlights
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with various health problems, but less is known about the gender differences in risk factors for high plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels
All participants recruited for this study had measurement data on following indexes: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CREA), glucose (Glu), uric acid (UA), triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and Hcy
The results showed that Hcy levels were correlated with increases in Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), CREA, UA, LDL-C and HDL-C and declines in Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TC and Glu in both males and females
Summary
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with various health problems, but less is known about the gender differences in risk factors for high plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Folate intervention was proven effective in reducing the elevated Hcy to normal levels in some HHcy patients [11], studies of risk factors for HHcy are urgent and necessary for the early prevention, detection and intervention of HHcy and its related diseases [12]. A recent study conducted in the southern region of China revealed a considerably increased overall prevalence of HHcy (50.8%) in routine checkup populations, and related risk factors for HHcy, including gender, age, uric acid (UA), and blood lipids, were identified [18]. Data on the gender-specific differences in risk factors for high plasma Hcy levels remain limited. Since many risk analyses for Hcy were based on cross-sectional studies [19, 20], retrospective, repeated measurement data from populations undergoing regular checkups may provide more information and yield unexpected results
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