Relationships of Plasma Homocysteine Concentration and Oxidative Stress Markers in Korean Collage Students

Abstract

Elevated plasma concentration of total homocysteine (ptHcy) is known as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and oxidative stress is also commonly implicated in CVD. An association between ptHcy and oxidative stress has recently been suggested. The study objective is to examine the relationship between ptHcy and oxidative stress markers in 103 healthy college students (62 males and 41 females). Plasma levels of ptHcy, oxidative stress markers (conjugated diene, erythrocyte catalase, TRAP, lymphocyte DNA damage), antioxidant vitamins (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, carotenoids), and lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol) were determined. The results show that the concentration of ptHcy was significantly higher in male subjects (22.17 ± 2.14 μmole/L) than in female subjects (12.28 ± 0.45 μmole/L). There was a negative association between ptHcy and plasma βcarotene in male subjects (p < 0.05), but no correlation between ptHcy and other plasma antioxidant vitamin levels in either gender. However, there were the negative correlations between ptHcy and plasma α-carotene or β-carotene, and a positive correlation between ptHcy and lymphocyte DNA damage. A significantly low level of α-carotene or β-carotene was found in male subjects with elevated ptHcy (≥ 15 μmol/L), as compared to those with lower plasma homocysteine. These study results confirmed the views on the association between plasma homocysteine and oxidative stress markers in humans and support the hypothesis that homocysteine promotes the oxidative environment by counteracting the antioxidant defense mechanism. (Korean J Nutr 2010; 43(5): 443 ~ 452)