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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-12-18
pubmed:abstractText
Alcoholism is related to malnutrition and low levels of several vitamins that take part in the metabolism of homocysteine. The objective of the study was to analyze the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with heavy alcohol intake and the factors on which it depends. Included in the study were 103 hospitalized heavy drinkers (i.e., patients with an intake of alcohol greater than 80 g per day). Serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B(12) levels, plasma vitamin B(6) levels, and CT677 polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) were determined. We also recorded the intensity of alcoholism, the status of nutrition, and the existence of liver cirrhosis. Determination of biochemical data was repeated after 15 days of withdrawal. Serum homocysteine levels were found to be significantly elevated, whereas serum folate and plasma B(6) levels were significantly decreased. Serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in those heavy drinkers who showed the TT polymorphism of MTHFR, with a prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia of 84.2% in the homozygote TT, 54.3% in the heterozygote CT, and 31.6% in the normal CC genotype. Serum homocysteine inversely correlated with serum folate, serum B(12), and plasma B(6) levels. We did not find any relation between serum homocysteine and intensity of alcoholism, nutritional status, or liver cirrhosis. Serum folate levels were significantly decreased in heavy drinkers, mainly depending on irregular feeding and malnutrition. After 15 days of withdrawal, serum homocysteine levels significantly decreased, whereas folate, B(12), and B(6) levels significantly increased. The conclusion is that heavy drinkers show a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia related to low levels of folate, B(6), and B(12) and to the TT polymorphism of MTHFR.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0741-8329
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
25
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
59-67
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
High prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in chronic alcoholism: the importance of the thermolabile form of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR).
pubmed:affiliation
Servicio de Laboratorio, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38320, Tenerife, Spain.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article