S-adenosylmethionine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are associated with endothelial function after controlling for confounding by homocysteine: the Hoorn Study

A.M. Spijkerman, Y.M. Smulders*, P.J. Kostense, R.M.A. Henry, A. Becker, T. Teerlink, C. Jakobs, J.M. Dekker, G. Nijpels, R.J. Heine, L.M. Bouter, C.D. Stehouwer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore to what extent homocysteine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine, total folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 are associated with endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and whether these associations are stronger in individuals with diabetes or other cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this population-based study of 608 elderly people, FMD and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) were ultrasonically estimated from the brachial artery (absolute change in diameter [mum]). High SAM and low 5-MTHF were significantly associated with high and low FMD, respectively (linear regression coefficient, [95% confidence interval]): 48.57 microm (21.16; 75.98) and -32.15 microm (-59.09; -5.20), but high homocysteine was not (-15.11 microm (-42.99; 12.78). High SAM and low 5-MTHF were also significantly associated with high and low NMD, respectively. NMD explained the association of 5-MTHF with FMD but not of SAM. No interactions were observed for diabetes or cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In this elderly population, both SAM and 5-MTHF are associated with endothelial and smooth muscle cell function. The effect of homocysteine on endothelial function is relatively small compared with SAM and 5-MTHF. The relative impact of SAM, 5-MTHF, and homocysteine, and the mechanisms through which these moieties may affect endothelial and smooth muscle cell function need clarification.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)778-784
JournalArteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

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