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Stein Emil Vollset

Publications and source records attributed to Stein Emil Vollset.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Associations between cod liver oil use and symptoms of depression: the Hordaland Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials suggest that omega-3 fatty acids improve the outcome of depression. This study aimed to evaluate the association between intake of cod liver oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and high levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population. METHODS: We used data from the "The Hordaland Health Study '97-'99" (HUSK), a population based cross-sectional health survey from Norway including 21,835 subjects aged 40-49 and 70-74 years. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured by The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We used logistic regression to study associations. RESULTS: Among the participants, 8.9% used cod liver oil daily. A total of 3.6% had high levels of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of such depressive symptoms among the subjects who used cod liver oil daily was 2.5%, as compared to 3.8% in the rest of the population. The users of cod liver oil were significantly less likely to have depressive symptoms than non-users after adjusting for multiple possible confounding factors (odds ratio=0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 0.97). These factors included age, gender, smoking habits, coffee consumption, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and education. In addition, we found that the prevalence of high levels of depressive symptoms decreased with increasing duration (0-12 months) of cod liver oil use (multivariate adjusted test for trend, P=0.04). We were only able to study this latter association in a subset of the population aged 40-46 years. LIMITATIONS: Data are cross sectional. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that regular use of cod liver oil is negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Functional inference of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C > T and 1298A > C polymorphisms from a large-scale epidemiological study.

Two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms, 677C > T and 1298A > C have been described for the methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR) gene. Both are associated with reduced enzyme activity in vitro. For the 677T, but not the 1298C allele, significantly lower serum folate and higher plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) have been reported. We genotyped 10,034 middle-aged (50-64 years old) subjects and measured serum folate and tHcy. Within strata of 677 genotypes, 1,298 genotypes had significantly different serum folate and tHcy (P < or = 0.03 for all comparisons). Each additional 1298C allele reduced mean serum folate and increased mean tHcy, by (on average) 4.5 and 3.0%, respectively. In comparison, within strata of 1,298 genotypes, the increase from no, to one 677T-allele reduced serum folate and increased tHcy by, 7.1 and 6.3%, respectively. Lowest serum folate and highest tHcy level was found for the 677TT/1298AA genotype. The difference in tHcy was significantly larger at low folate than at high folate when genotypes 677TT/1298AA and 677CT/1298AA, 677CT/1298AC and 677CC/1298AC, and genotypes 677CT/1298AC and 677CT/1298AA were compared. We interpreted these data in the context of a model of the MTHFR enzyme that describes the enzyme as a dimer that mainly exist in six different configurations. The model reconciled the observed phenotypic effects of the 677/1,298 combination genotypes with previous in vitro measurements, and identified enzyme configurations that are sensitive to low folate levels. In conclusion, this report demonstrates functional inference of the MTHFR 677 C > T and 1,298 A > C polymorphisms from a large-scale epidemiological study.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed2006

Smoking and deaths between 40 and 70 years of age in women and men.

BACKGROUND: The vast scientific literature on smoking and health contains few large studies with direct estimates of long-term mortality by smoking habits. Data have been lacking, particularly for women. OBJECTIVE: To study smoking and deaths and causes of death in women and men of middle age (40 to 70 years of age). DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Norway (the Norwegian Counties Study). PARTICIPANTS: 24,505 women and 25,034 men who were born between 1925 and 1941. MEASUREMENTS: Initial information on smoking habits was collected between 1974 and 1978. Smoking status was also assessed about 5 years and 10 years after the first examination. Death during 1974 to 2000 was studied by using death certificate information. RESULTS: During follow-up, 2333 women and 4680 men died in middle age. Among women and men, 9% and 14% of never smokers, respectively, and 26% and 41% of continuing heavy smokers (> or =20 cigarettes per day), respectively, died in middle age. Years of life lost among heavy smokers between 40 and 70 years of age were 1.4 years in women and 2.7 years in men, compared with never smokers. Rates of smoking-associated lung cancer were similar in women and men, while lower cardiovascular mortality rates in women explained most of the difference in smoking-associated all-cause mortality between men and women. LIMITATIONS: Data on changes in smoking habits after the baseline examination were not available for all participants and for the last 15 years of follow-up. Mortality levels in middle age may not apply to non-Norwegian populations. CONCLUSIONS: Continuing smoking strongly increased and smoking cessation decreased the risk for death between 40 and 70 years of age for both women and men. Despite similar rates for lung cancer death, women who smoked had lower mortality rates in middle age than men with similar smoking histories due to fewer cardiovascular deaths in women.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Plasma total homocysteine level and bone mineral density: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

BACKGROUND: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) has been associated with hip fracture but not directly with bone mineral density (BMD). We examined the association of hip BMD with levels of plasma tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C-->T and 1298A-->C polymorphisms. METHODS: Bone mineral density was measured between 1997 and 2000 in 2268 men and 3070 women, aged 47 to 50 and 71 to 75 years, from the Hordaland Homocysteine Study cohort. Low BMD was defined as BMD in the lowest quintile for each sex and age group. Linear, logistic, and generalized additive regression models were used. RESULTS: Plasma levels of tHcy were inversely related to BMD among middle-aged and elderly women (P<.001) but not among men. The multiple adjusted odds ratio for low BMD among subjects with high (>or=15 micromol/L [>or=2.02 mg/L]) compared with low (<9 micromol/L [<1.22 mg/L]) tHcy level was 1.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.40-2.75) for women and was not significant for men. Additional adjustments for plasma folate level or intake of calcium and vitamin D did not substantially alter the results. Plasma folate level was associated with BMD in women only. We observed no association between BMD and vitamin B12 level or the MTHFR polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated tHcy and low folate levels were associated with reduced BMD in women but not in men. These findings suggest that tHcy may be a potential modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis in women.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: the Hordaland Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether subjects taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are more likely to have elements of the metabolic syndrome compared with those taking no psychotropic drugs. For comparison, we also studied subjects taking antipsychotic drugs. METHOD: We used data from The Hordaland Health Study '97-'99, a general community cross-sectional health survey including 25,315 subjects aged 40 to 49 and 70 to 74 years. For the groups studied, we estimated prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) for obesity, hypercholesterolemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyper-triglyceridemia, and diabetes. RESULTS: We observed an association between use of SSRIs as a group (N = 461) and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.81) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.73) after adjusting for multiple possible confounders. There was also a trend toward an association between SSRI use and diabetes. In a subgroup analysis of subjects taking SSRIs, the use of paroxetine (N = 187) was markedly associated with both general and abdominal obesity but not with hypercholesterolemia. In contrast, the use of citalopram (N = 142) was not associated with any of the metabolic outcome variables, while the use of any other SSRI (sertraline, fluoxetine, or fluvoxamine) (N = 131) as a mixed subgroup was associated with both abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia. We also replicated the previously reported associations between use of antipsychotics and obesity and metabolic disturbances. CONCLUSION: We have shown that use of at least some SSRIs is associated with clinical and biochemical elements of the metabolic syndrome. Our data indicate differences in the metabolic side effect profile among various SSRI drugs, although treatment bias might have influenced these results. We suggest that patients taking SSRIs be carefully monitored for obesity and dyslipidemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Low fasting methionine concentration as a novel risk factor for recurrent venous thrombosis.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for venous thrombosis, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. If the thiol-group of homocysteine interferes with components of the clotting system, we expect that high cysteine will be also a risk factor for venous thrombosis. If high homocysteine reflects a disturbed methyl-group donation by S-adenosylmethionine, we expect that low methionine will be a risk factor for thrombosis. We performed a case-control study in 185 patients with recurrent venous thrombosis and in 500 control subjects. We determined methionine, homocysteine, cysteine and assessed the associated thrombotic risk. Low fasting methionine was associated with an increased risk on recurrent venous thrombosis [OR(bottom vs. top quartile) = 3.3 (95%CI 1.9-5.7)]. Low methionine remained a risk factor [OR(bottom vs. top quartile) = 3.5 (95%CI 2.0-6.0)] after adjusting for homocysteine and cysteine, whereas the thrombotic risk for homocysteine was lost [OR = 1.0 (95%CI 0.6-1.9)] after adjustment. Cysteine yielded a highest odds ratio of 2.1(top vs. bottom quartile) (95%CI 1.0-4.0) after adjustment. In conclusion, we found that low fasting methionine is a risk factor for recurrent venous thrombosis. This risk association was stronger for methionine than for homocysteine or cysteine. This supports the hypothesis that impaired methylation may be involved in the pathogenesis of venous thrombosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Risk of disability pension among young persons on long-term sick leave].

BACKGROUND: In the late 1990s the incidence of new disability pensioners in Norway increased, especially among young people. This study assessed the risk and possible predictors of a transition to disability among long-term sickness absentees below 40. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in a county with 10 % of Norway's population. All new long-term (i.e. more than 8 weeks) sickness absentees below 40 years over a six-month period in 1994 were included and followed up until year-end 1999. Socio-demographic and medical information were used as independent variables in Cox regression analysis with disability as the outcome variable. RESULTS: The five-year risk of disability was 7.9 % (95 % CI 5.8 % - 10.0 %) for men and 10.3 % (95 % CI 8.5 % - 13.1 %) for women. Among young persons on long-term sickness absence with psychiatric diagnoses the rate of disability was 24 % (95 % CI 15 - 33 %) for men and 11 % (95 % CI 6 - 16 %) for women. In musculoskeletal disorders the risk of disability was 5 % (95 % CI 3 - 7 %) for men and 11 % (95 % CI 8 - 14 %) for women. Women had higher rates of disability among all subgroups of musculoskeletal disorders. Regression analysis showed no gender effect. The following variables increased the risk of disability pension: psychiatric diagnosis (only for men), low income (both genders), increasing age (only women) and previous long-term absence (only for men). INTERPRETATION: A moderate risk of disability pension was found among young people on long-term sick leave. Special interventions targeted at men with psychiatric diagnoses and women with musculoskeletal disorders should be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

International retrospective cohort study of neural tube defects in relation to folic acid recommendations: are the recommendations working?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of policies and recommendations on folic acid aimed at reducing the occurrence of neural tube defects. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of births monitored by birth defect registries. SETTING: 13 birth defects registries monitoring rates of neural tube defects from 1988 to 1998 in Norway, Finland, Northern Netherlands, England and Wales, Ireland, France (Paris, Strasbourg, and Central East), Hungary, Italy (Emilia Romagna and Campania), Portugal, and Israel. Cases of neural tube defects were ascertained among liveborn infants, stillbirths, and pregnancy terminations (where legal). Policies and recommendations were ascertained by interview and literature review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidences and trends in rates of neural tube defects before and after 1992 (the year of the first recommendations) and before and after the year of local recommendations (when applicable). RESULTS: The issuing of recommendations on folic acid was followed by no detectable improvement in the trends of incidence of neural tube defects. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations alone did not seem to influence trends in neural tube defects up to six years after the confirmation of the effectiveness of folic acid in clinical trials. New cases of neural tube defects preventable by folic acid continue to accumulate. A reasonable strategy would be to quickly integrate food fortification with fuller implementation of recommendations on supplements.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of public initiatives aimed at reducing neural tube defects with folic acid supplementation].

BACKGROUND: In order to prevent neural tube defects, a daily supplement of 400 microg (microgram) folic acid has been recommended in Norway since 1998, during the last month before conception and the first two or three months of pregnancy. Compliance with and effects of this recommendation has recently been evaluated in Norway in a report to the Directorate of Health and Social Welfare. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Reports published on periconceptional folic acid intake in Norway and some other countries from 1998 to autumn 2003 have been evaluated. RESULTS: In spite of several information activities, few Norwegian women start folic acid supplementation before verified pregnancy. The supplementation is started too late for the prevention of neural tube defects. A reduction is not observed in Norway. Internationally, information has not proven effective either, whereas compulsory fortification of foods with folic acid has been associated with reduced incidence. Information about periconceptional folic acid intake should be intensified. Compulsory fortification of foods with folic acid will affect the whole population, not only the target group of fertile women. If ongoing large intervention studies show improved clinical prognosis for patients with cardiovascular disease, this will be an additional argument for fortification of foods.

Female↗
PubMed2005

[Does folic acid have effects on other health problems than neural tube defects?].

BACKGROUND: While it is widely accepted that periconceptional supplement of 400 microg (microgram) folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects in pregnancy, it remains to be established whether folic acid has other beneficial effects on larger population groups. Evidence concerning effect of increased intake on cardiovascular disease, cancer and other diseases has recently been evaluated in a report to the Directorate of Health and Social Welfare in Norway. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Research reports published mainly from 1998 to 2003 on folic acid intake and disease have been evaluated. RESULTS: Sufficient evidence that increased folic acid intake may prevent cancer or cardiovascular diseases is not yet available, hence at present there is no indication for recommending augmented intake for other groups than fertile women. However, several intervention studies with folic acid supplementation are in progress to establish its effect on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. INTERPRETATION: If the ongoing intervention studies show a beneficial clinical effect on cardiovascular disease, it would be a further argument for fortification of foods, in addition to reducing the risk of neural tube defects in pregnancy.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Plasma concentration of folate as a biomarker for the intake of fruit and vegetables: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional biomarkers may be used to assess dietary exposure without the errors commonly associated with self-reported dietary data. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the association between plasma folate and intake of folate, fruit, and vegetables in a large cohort of healthy adults consuming foods that had not been fortified with folic acid. DESIGN: The present study population included 5533 middle-aged (47-49 y) and old (71-74 y) subjects from the Hordaland Homocysteine Study. The participants completed a food-frequency questionnaire and provided blood samples for chemical analyses. RESULTS: We observed a significant difference in plasma concentrations of folate across increasing quartiles of fruit, vegetable, and orange juice consumption. The difference in plasma folate between the highest and lowest quartiles was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.86, 2.07) nmol/L for fruit intake, 1.79 (95% CI: 1.69, 1.89) nmol/L for vegetable intake, and 2.69 (95% CI: 2.51, 2.87) nmol/L for orange juice intake. A significant inverse relation was observed across increasing quartiles of milk and bread intakes. The difference between the highest and lowest quartiles was -1.03 (95% CI: -1.13, -0.92) nmol/L for milk and -1.60 (95% CI: -1.69, -1.50) nmol/L for bread. CONCLUSION: Plasma folate concentration may be a useful biomarker for the intake of fruit and vegetables in populations consuming unfortified food products. The association can be attenuated by and should be corrected for individual intake of folic acid supplements.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Folate supplementation and twin pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: Women in many countries are advised to increase their folate intake to lower the risk of neural tube defects. For this purpose several countries add folate to the flour. Therefore, it is important to monitor possible adverse effects of this B vitamin. We have assessed the effect of folate on twin pregnancies. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, population-register based study of 176,042 women who gave birth from December 1998 through the end of 2001. Use of folate and multivitamin supplements was recorded on the mandatory birth notification form of the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were reported separately. RESULTS: With adjustment for maternal age and parity, we observed an increased risk of twin pregnancies associated with preconceptional use of folate (odds ratio = 1.59; 95% confidence interval = 1.41-1.78). This association was largely explained by confounding with IVF pregnancies, which were strongly associated both with twin pregnancies and folate use. After exclusion of known IVF pregnancies, and accounting for underreporting of both IVF pregnancies and folate use, the risk was no longer elevated (1.02; 0.85-1.24). Weak associations with twin pregnancies were observed for use of multivitamins and folate during pregnancy, but could be due to increased use of vitamins after a recognized twin pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The association between preconceptional folate use and twin pregnancies was strongly confounded by IVF. After accounting for IVF pregnancies and underreporting, we found no evidence for an association between preconceptional folate supplements and twinning.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Betaine and folate status as cooperative determinants of plasma homocysteine in humans.

OBJECTIVE: Two published studies have demonstrated that betaine in the circulation is a determinant of plasma total homocysteine, but none had sufficient power to investigate the possible effect modification by folate status. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured homocysteine, betaine, folate, vitamin B(6), and related compounds in serum/plasma from 500 healthy men and women aged 34 to 69 years before (fasting levels) and 6 hours after a standard methionine loading test. Choline, dimethylglycine, and folate were determinants of plasma betaine in a multiple regression model adjusting for age and sex. The increase in homocysteine after loading showed a strong inverse association with plasma betaine and a weaker inverse association with folate and vitamin B(6). Fasting homocysteine showed a strong inverse relation to folate, a weak relation to plasma betaine, and no relation to vitamin B(6). Notably, adjusted (for age and sex) dose-response curves for the postmethionine increase in homocysteine or fasting homocysteine versus betaine showed that the inverse associations were most pronounced at low serum folate, an observation that was confirmed by analyses of interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results show that plasma betaine is a strong determinant of increase in homocysteine after methionine loading, particularly in subjects with low folate status. In 500 healthy subjects, postmethionine load increase in tHcy showed a stronger inverse relation to betaine than to folate and vitamin B6, whereas for fasting tHcy, betaine was a weaker determinant than folate. For both tHcy modalities, the association with betaine was most pronounced in subjects with low folate status.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Usefulness and safety of percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization for refractory angina pectoris.

This prospective, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was designed to control for patient and investigator bias in assessing symptomatic improvement after percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization (PMLR) therapy. Eighty-two patients with stable angina pectoris (class III or IV) not amenable to conventional revascularization and with evidence of reversible ischemia, ejection fraction >/=25%, and myocardial wall thickness >/=8 mm were randomized to either PMLR with optimal medical therapy (n = 40) or to a sham procedure with optimal medical therapy (n = 42). With the exception of 1 laser technician, all patients, investigators, and assessors were blinded to treatment through the 12-month follow-up. The primary end point was restricted to Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class improvement to limit the number of patients exposed to a sham procedure. Secondary assessments included medication usage, quality of life, exercise testing, ejection fraction, and hospitalizations. The incidence of serious adverse events, as determined by cardiac event-free survival at 12 months, was similar between groups. At 12 months, Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina scores improved by >/=2 classes in significantly more PMLR-treated patients than sham control patients (35% vs 14%, p = 0.04). Angina-specific quality-of-life measures were significantly higher in the PMLR group at each follow-up (p <0.05). Exercise and medication usage was similar between groups at 12 months. We conclude that PMLR therapy is reasonably safe and effective as symptomatic improvement in patients refractory to medical therapy, and that the clinical benefit is not attributable to placebo effect or investigator bias.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Hematological parameters and cobalamin status in infants born to smoking mothers.

Hematological parameters, serum cobalamin and folate levels, and the concentrations of the functional markers plasma methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine were determined in 173 newborns and 46 infants at 6 weeks to see whether maternal smoking influences the hematological parameters and the vitamin status of the newborn. At birth, there was a strong inverse correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked per day during pregnancy and red blood cell count (r = -0.56, p = 0.001) and hemoglobin level (r = -0.52, p = 0.003) in the newborns. Neonates born to smoking mothers had lower red blood cell counts and lower hemoglobin and serum cobalamin levels as compared with infants born to nonsmoking mothers. At 6 weeks, maternal smoking significantly predicted the methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine levels, suggesting an influence from smoking on the cobalamin function in these infants.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Changes in knowledge and attitudes of folate, and use of dietary supplements among women of reproductive age in Norway 1998-2000.

AIMS: From March 1998, Norwegian nutrition authorities have recommended that women consume a folic acid supplement before and early in pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. The authors wished to establish Norwegian data on knowledge of, use of, and attitudes to folic acid supplement and dietary supplements before and after implementing national information campaigns on folate and pregnancy. METHODS: Telephone surveys were carried out in late 1998 and in late 2000 among, respectively, 1,146 and 1,218 Norwegian women of reproductive age. RESULTS: Overall, 50% of the women in 1998 and 60% of the women in 2000 had heard about folate, 33% and 46% knew about its role in pregnancy, and 9.5% and 21% knew that it may prevent a congenital malformation. Only 4.0% and 8.5% of the women, respectively, knew that the critical period for folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defect is before and early in pregnancy. Knowledge and increase in knowledge between the two surveys were highest among women close to pregnancy (woman planning pregnancy, pregnant women, or women who had given birth within the last 12 months), and among women with high education. Among the 54 women in 1998 and the 55 women in 2000 whose last birth was within the previous year, use of a folic acid supplement before or early in the last pregnancy was reported by 10% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5-21%) and by 47% (95% CI 35-60%), respectively. Among women close to pregnancy, 76% in 1998 and 87% in 2000 stated that they would use a folic acid supplement in a future pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and use of folate among Norwegian women increased from 1998 to 2000. Future information strategies on folate and pregnancy should in particular aim at increasing women's knowledge on the critical period for folic acid supplementation, as well as reducing socio-demographic differences in use and knowledge of folate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Changes in basal and postmethionine load concentrations of total homocysteine and cystathionine after B vitamin intervention.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B-6 is necessary for the metabolism of homocysteine and is often used in combination with folic acid and vitamin B-12 in clinical trials that investigate whether the lowering of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) can prevent vascular disease. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of vitamin B-6 with the effects of folic acid and vitamin B-12, as used in the Western Norway B-vitamin Intervention Trial (WENBIT), on basal and postmethionine load (PML) tHcy and cystathionine concentrations. DESIGN: Ninety patients with suspected coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups to receive daily oral treatment with 1) 0.8 mg folic acid, 0.4 mg vitamin B-12, and 40 mg vitamin B-6 (group A); 2) 0.8 mg folic acid and 0.4 mg vitamin B-12 (group B); 3) 40 mg vitamin B-6 (group C); or 4) placebo (group D). For the first 2 wk, groups A and B received additional folic acid (5 mg/d). A methionine-loading test was performed at baseline and after 3 mo. RESULTS: Treatment with folic acid and vitamin B-12 caused a rapid and significant lowering of basal (31%) and PML tHcy concentrations (22%), with no effect on cystathionine. Vitamin B-6 did not change basal tHcy and had a significant but limited effect on PML tHcy concentrations. However, vitamin B-6 treatment markedly lowered basal and PML cystathionine by 31% and 42%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The folic acid and vitamin B-12 combination applied in WENBIT provides rapid, substantial, and long-term tHcy-lowering effects, whereas the effect of vitamin B-6 on tHcy was relatively small and confined to PML tHcy. However, vitamin B-6 treatment caused a marked reduction in plasma cystathionine. Cystathionine could be a useful marker for assessment of the vitamin B-6 effect and should, together with tHcy, be related to clinical outcome in ongoing trials.

Administration, Oral↗