health  &  wellness

Should Arab Men at Risk for Heart Disease Test for Homocysteine?

High plasma Homocysteine level is associated with increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease and also substantially increases the risk associated with Smoking, Hypertension and high Cholesterol.
Folic Acid lowers plasma Homocysteine, but it’s not known if this reduces Coronary Heart Disease Risk.

A study by Doctors Joubran & Asmi from Assad University Hospital, Damascus, Syria & published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Risk, compared 133 men with documented (by angiography, that is "tamyeel al-qalb" in Arabic) Coronary Heart Disease with 130 men without heart disease symptoms.
After analyzing the data they found that Homocysteine is an independent Risk factor of Coronary Artery Disease in Arab men.

So, should Arab Men at risk of developing Coronary Artery Disease get tested for Homocysteine? This is an issue, for you to discuss with your doctor.

Reference
· Homocysteine levels and coronary heart disease in Syria.
Joubran R - J Cardiovasc Risk - 1998 Aug; 5(4): 257-61

· David Wood MS, FRCP, FRCPE, FPHM, FESC
Established and emerging cardiovascular risk factors
American Heart Journal, Volume 141 • Number 2 • February 2001

· Boushey C, Beresford SAA, Omenn G, et al. A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. Probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA 1995;274:1049-57

· Graham IM, Daly LE, Refsum HM, et al. Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. The European Concerted Action Project. JAMA 1997;277:1775-81.

edited by T. Farhat, MD - 2001