Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease: evidence on causality from a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess whether the association of serum homocysteine concentration with ischaemic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and stroke is causal and, if so, to quantify the effect of homocysteine reduction in preventing them.

Design

Meta-analyses of the above three diseases using (a) 72 studies in which the prevalence of a mutation in the MTHFR gene (which increases homocysteine) was determined in cases (n=16 849) and controls, and (b) 20 prospective studies (3820 participants) of serum homocysteine and disease risk.

Main outcome measures

Odds ratios of the three diseases for a 5 micromol/l increase in serum homocysteine concentration.

Results

There were significant associations between homocysteine and the three diseases. The odd

SUBMITTER: Wald DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC135491 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature