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Folate and Cardiovascular Disease: Title and subTitle BreakWhy We Need a Trial Now FREE

Meir J. Stampfer, MD, DrPH; Eric B. Rimm, ScD
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Reprints: Meir Stampfer, MD, DrPH, Channing Laboratory, 180 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115.


JAMA. 1996;275(24):1929-1930. doi:10.1001/jama.1996.03530480071044
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In this issue of The Journal, Morrison and colleagues1 provide important new information that fits neatly with the rapidly emerging area of homocysteine, folate, and cardiovascular disease. As comprehensively reviewed last year in JAMA,2 strong and remarkably consistent data have linked elevated levels of homocysteine with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The risk appears to be graded across the whole distribution of homocysteine levels and, if causal, would account for a substantial fraction of the incidence of these diseases. Elevated homocysteine levels can be reduced by even modest amounts of folate,3,4 providing a plausible mechanism for the remarkable findings of Morrison et al of a 69% increased risk of coronary mortality among those in the lowest quartile, as compared with highest quartile of serum folate. The findings are similar to previous studies using intermediate end points,5 as well as case-control data5 and preliminary prospective data

REFERENCES

Morrison HI, Schaubel D, Desmeules M, Wigle DT.  Serum folate and risk of fatal coronary heart disease. JAMA . 1996;;275:1893-1896.
Boushey CJ, Beresford SAA, Omenn GS, Motulsky AG.  A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease: probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA . 1995;;274:1049-1057.
Ubbink JB, Vermaak WJH, van der Merwe A, Becker PJ, Delport R, Potgieter HC.  Vitamin requirements for the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in humans. J Nutr . 1994;;124:1927-1933.
Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PWF, Rush D, Rosenberg IH.  Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA . 1993;;270:2693-2698.
Pancharuniti N, Lewis CA, Sauberlich HE, et al.  Plasma homocyst(e)ine, folate, and vitamin B-12 concentrations and risk for early-onset coronary artery disease. Am J Clin Nutr . 1994;;59:940-948.
Verhoef P, Stampfer MJ, Buring JE, et al.  Homocysteine metabolism and risk of MI: relationship with vitamin B6, B12, and folate. Am J Epidemiol . 1996;;143:845-859.
Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Ascherio A, Giovannucci E, Willett WC.  Dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake, and risk of CHD. Circulation . 1996;;93:625. Abstract.
O'Keefe CA, Bailey LB, Thomas EA, et al.  Controlled dietary folate affects folate status in nonpregnant women. J Nutr . 1995;;125:2717-2725.
Tsai JC, Perrella MA, Yoshizumi M, et al.  Promotion of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by homocysteine: a link to atherosclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1994;;91:6369-6373.
Ueland PM, Refsum H, Brattström L.  Plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular disease.  In: Francis RB Jr, ed. Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Hemostasis, and Endothelial Function . New York, NY: Marcel Dekker Inc; 1992;:183-236.
Stamler JS, Osborne JA, Jaraki O, et al.  Adverse vascular effects of homocysteine are modulated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor and related oxides of nitrogen. J Clin Invest . 1993;;91:308-318.
Lindenbaum J, Rosenberg IH, Wilson PWF, Stabler SP, Allen RH.  Prevalence of cobalamin deficiency in the Framingham elderly population. Am J Clin Nutr . 1994;;60:2-11.
Subar AF, Block G, James LD.  Folate intake and food sources in the US population. Am J Clin Nutr . 1989;;50:508-516.

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Morrison HI, Schaubel D, Desmeules M, Wigle DT.  Serum folate and risk of fatal coronary heart disease. JAMA . 1996;;275:1893-1896.
Boushey CJ, Beresford SAA, Omenn GS, Motulsky AG.  A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease: probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA . 1995;;274:1049-1057.
Ubbink JB, Vermaak WJH, van der Merwe A, Becker PJ, Delport R, Potgieter HC.  Vitamin requirements for the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in humans. J Nutr . 1994;;124:1927-1933.
Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PWF, Rush D, Rosenberg IH.  Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA . 1993;;270:2693-2698.
Pancharuniti N, Lewis CA, Sauberlich HE, et al.  Plasma homocyst(e)ine, folate, and vitamin B-12 concentrations and risk for early-onset coronary artery disease. Am J Clin Nutr . 1994;;59:940-948.
Verhoef P, Stampfer MJ, Buring JE, et al.  Homocysteine metabolism and risk of MI: relationship with vitamin B6, B12, and folate. Am J Epidemiol . 1996;;143:845-859.
Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Ascherio A, Giovannucci E, Willett WC.  Dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake, and risk of CHD. Circulation . 1996;;93:625. Abstract.
O'Keefe CA, Bailey LB, Thomas EA, et al.  Controlled dietary folate affects folate status in nonpregnant women. J Nutr . 1995;;125:2717-2725.
Tsai JC, Perrella MA, Yoshizumi M, et al.  Promotion of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by homocysteine: a link to atherosclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1994;;91:6369-6373.
Ueland PM, Refsum H, Brattström L.  Plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular disease.  In: Francis RB Jr, ed. Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Hemostasis, and Endothelial Function . New York, NY: Marcel Dekker Inc; 1992;:183-236.
Stamler JS, Osborne JA, Jaraki O, et al.  Adverse vascular effects of homocysteine are modulated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor and related oxides of nitrogen. J Clin Invest . 1993;;91:308-318.
Lindenbaum J, Rosenberg IH, Wilson PWF, Stabler SP, Allen RH.  Prevalence of cobalamin deficiency in the Framingham elderly population. Am J Clin Nutr . 1994;;60:2-11.
Subar AF, Block G, James LD.  Folate intake and food sources in the US population. Am J Clin Nutr . 1989;;50:508-516.
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