Serum homocysteine and cysteine levels and changes in the lipid profile of children and adolescents over a 12-month follow-up period

Abstract

There is evidence of associations between high serum homocysteine (Hcy) and cysteine (Cys) levels and changes in the lipid profile of adults; however, little information is available with respect to these associations in the pediatric age group. To identify the effect of high baseline serum Hcy and Cys levels, alone or in conjunction, on the lipid profile of children and adolescents over a 12-month follow-up period. A cohort study involving 540 boys and girls of 7-15 years of age was conducted over 12 months. The outcome variables were the lipid indicators and the principal exposure variable was serum Hcy and Cys levels. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach was used to identify the associations of interest. Irrespective of age, sex, socioeconomic status, diet or anthropometric status, when serum Hcy levels were above the 5th quintile of distribution at baseline, HDL-cholesterol decreased by a mean of 2.91mg/dl (p<0.01), while triglyceride levels increased by a mean of 1.58mg/dl (p<0.01) over the 12-month follow-up period. In individuals with high baseline Cys levels, there was a reduction of 1.95mg/dl (p<0.01) and an increase of 1.76mg/dl (p<0.01) in mean serum HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels, respectively, over the 12-month period. When serum Hcy and Cys levels were both above the 5th quintile of distribution at baseline, there was a reduction of 3.65mg/dl (p<0.01) in mean HDL-cholesterol and an increase of 3.53mg/dl (p<0.01) in mean triglyceride levels in the 12 months of follow-up. High baseline serum Hcy and Cys levels resulted in a reduction in mean HDL-cholesterol levels and an increase in mean triglycerides levels over the 12 months of follow-up in children and adolescents, with these alterations being greater when these two biochemical parameters were simultaneously high at baseline.