Alcohol increases homocysteine and reduces B vitamin concentration in healthy male volunteers--a randomized, crossover intervention study (original) (raw)
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Kinetics of Homocysteine Metabolism After Moderate Alcohol Consumption
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 2005
Background: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Because plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and associated with alcohol consumption, the authors investigated the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on kinetics of plasma tHcy concentration, vitamin B status, and other parameters involved in tHcy metabolism. Methods: Ten healthy men and nine healthy postmenopausal women (aged 45-65 years) participated in a randomized, diet-controlled, crossover trial. They consumed beer or alcohol-free beer (men: 4 units/day; women: 3 units/day) during 3 weeks, separated by a 1-week washout. On days 5, 10, 15, and 20 of each period, fasting blood samples were taken. Results: Plasma tHcy (M) and S-adenosyl methionine/S-adenosyl homocysteine ratio were not affected by consumption of beer or alcohol-free beer (p ϭ 0.33 and p ϭ 0.14, respectively). Plasma pyridoxal-5phosphate (g/liter) increased during consumption of beer (ϩ11.0%), whereas it decreased during consumption of alcohol-free beer (Ϫ34.0%; p ϭ 0.042). Changes over time of plasma vitamin B 6 (g/liter) were similar to changes in plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate (p ϭ 0.10). Serum vitamin B 12 was higher (p Ͻ 0.001) after 3 weeks consumption of alcohol-free beer (382.8 Ϯ 23.7 pg/liter) as compared with beer consumption (327.5 Ϯ 22.2 pg/liter). Changes in serum methionine, cysteine, cystathionine, and plasma folate were not different between beer-drinking and alcohol-free beer-drinking periods. Conclusions: This study shows that moderate alcohol consumption does not affect plasma tHcy concentrations or S-adenosyl methionine/S-adenosyl homocysteine ratio. However, it does increase plasma vitamin B 6 and decrease serum vitamin B 12 .
Effects of moderate alcohol consumption on folate and vitamin B12 status in postmenopausal women
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004
Background: Although alcohol intake has been positively associated with breast cancer risk in epidemiologic studies, a causal relationship has not been established, and the mechanisms mediating this association are speculative. Alcohol may act through altered status of folate and vitamin B 12 , two vitamins required for DNA methylation and nucleotide synthesis, and thus cell integrity. Although the effects of heavy alcohol intake on folate and vitamin B 12 status have been well-documented, few studies have addressed the effects of moderate alcohol intake in a controlled setting. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of moderate alcohol intake on folate and vitamin B 12 status in healthy, well-nourished, postmenopausal women. Design: The study design was a randomized, diet-controlled crossover intervention. Postmenopausal women (n ¼ 53) received three 8-week alcohol treatments in random order: 0, 15, and 30 g/day. Treatment periods were preceded by 2-5-week washout periods. Blood collected at baseline and week 8 of each treatment period was analyzed for serum folate, vitamin B 12 , homocysteine (HCY), and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations. Results: After adjusting for body mass index (BMI), a significant 5% decrease was observed in mean serum vitamin B 12 concentrations from 0 to 30 g of alcohol/day (461.45730.26 vs 440.25730.24 pg/ml; P ¼ 0.03). Mean serum HCY concentrations tended to increase by 3% from 0 to 30 g of alcohol/day (9.4470.37 vs 9.7370.37 mmol/l; P ¼ 0.05). Alcohol intake had no significant effects on serum folate or MMA concentrations. Conclusions: Among healthy, well-nourished, postmenopausal women, moderate alcohol intake may diminish vitamin B 12 status. Sponsorship: NCI, NIH and ARS, USDA.
The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2001
The serum total homocysteine concentration (tHcy), an indicator of folate status and a possible risk factor for vascular disease, is elevated with impaired renal function and poor vitamin B-12 status, which are common in the elderly. Our objective was to determine the association between tHcy, folate intake, alcohol consumption, and other lifestyle factors in elderly persons. This cross-sectional study used linear regression to model changes in tHcy. Subjects were 278 men and women aged 66-94 y studied in 1993. Total folate intake was negatively associated with tHcy in models adjusted for age, sex, serum creatinine, and serum albumin. We found an interaction between food folate intake and supplement use. Food folate intake had an inverse dose-response relation with tHcy that was limited to nonusers of supplements. Predicted tHcy was 1.5 micromol/L lower in users of supplements containing folate and vitamin B-12 than in nonusers and was independent of food folate intake. We found a p...
Vitamin Supplements as a Nutritional Strategy against Chronic Alcohol Consumption? An Updated Review
Antioxidants, 2022
Several studies have shown that blood vitamin levels are low in alcoholic patients. In effect, alcohol use abuse is considered a chronic disease that promotes the pathogenesis of many fatal diseases, such as cancer and liver cirrhosis. The alcohol effects in the liver can be prevented by antioxidant mechanisms, which induces enzymatic as well as other nonenzymatic pathways. The effectiveness of several antioxidants has been evaluated. However, these studies have been accompanied by uncertainty as mixed results were reported. Thus, the aim of the present review article was to examine the current knowledge on vitamin deficiency and its role in chronic liver disease. Our review found that deficiencies in nutritional vitamins could develop rapidly during chronic liver disease due to diminished hepatic storage and that inadequate vitamins intake and alcohol consumption may interact to deplete vitamin levels. Numerous studies have described that vitamin supplementation could reduce hepato...
Effect of Chronic Alcohol Consumption on Total Plasma Homocysteine Level in Rats
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2000
Background Chronic alcoholism in humans is associated with the development of hyperhomocysteinemia, the mechanism of which remains unclear. Among the causes of hyperhomocysteinemia is depletion of folate, vitamin B,,, or vitamin B,. Population-based studies indicate that folate is the strongest vitamin determinant of hyperhomocysteinemia and, in most settings, folate supplementation effectively lowers elevated homocysteine levels. However, it is not clear whether folate deficiency is the cause of alcoholrelated hyperhomocysteinemia.
Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2012
Various studies have shown that plasma homocysteine (HCY) serum levels are elevated in actively drinking alcohol-dependent patients a during alcohol withdrawal, while rapidly declining during abstinence. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated not only with blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but also with deficiency of different B-vitamins, particularly folate, pyridoxine and cobalamin. Our study included 168 inpatients (110 men, 58 women) after admission for detoxification treatment. BAC, folate, cobalamin, pyridoxine, thiamine and riboflavin were obtained on admission (Day 1). HCY was assessed on Days 1, 7 and 11. HCY levels significantly declined during withdrawal. General linear models and linear regression analysis showed an influence of BAC, folate and riboflavin on the HCY levels on admission as well as on HCY changes occurring during alcohol withdrawal. No significant influence was found for thiamine, cobalamin and pyridoxine. These findings show that not only BAC and plasma folate levels, but also plasma levels of riboflavin influence HCY plasma levels in alcohol-dependent patients.
Aims: Various studies have shown that plasma homocysteine (HCY) serum levels are elevated in actively drinking alcohol-dependent patients a during alcohol withdrawal, while rapidly declining during abstinence. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated not only with blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but also with deficiency of different B-vitamins, particularly folate, pyridoxine and cobalamin. Methods: Our study included 168 inpatients (110 men, 58 women) after admission for detoxification treatment. BAC, folate, cobalamin, pyridoxine, thiamine and riboflavin were obtained on admission (Day 1). HCY was assessed on Days 1, 7 and 11. Results: HCY levels significantly declined during withdrawal. General linear models and linear regression analysis showed an influence of BAC, folate and riboflavin on the HCY levels on admission as well as on HCY changes occurring during alcohol withdrawal. No significant influence was found for thiamine, cobalamin and pyridoxine. Conclusions: These findings show that not only BAC and plasma folate levels, but also plasma levels of riboflavin influence HCY plasma levels in alcohol-dependent patients.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 1995
There is epidemiological evidence that a moderate consumption of alcohol could reduce coronary heart disease. To corroborate this statement and to see how the consumption of red wine affects phospholipid and fatty acid patterns and antioxidant status, a survey was conducted on 58 adult males (20-75 years old). A questionnaire was used to discover their medical history, various constitutional and life-style factors, food habits, and nutrient intake; and the type and amount of alcoholic intake were investigated by means of a questionnaire. Subjects were divided into two groups of nondrinkers and average drinkers (mean 46.5 +/- 4.4, range 30.2-63.4 g/day), and the effect of alcohol was made on the following variables: gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B, total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and antioxidant vitamins were determined in plasma; and phospholipids the fatty acids of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine total cholesterol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and retinol were determined in red blood cells (RBCs). There were no significant differences between the two groups in protein, fat, carbohydrate, retinol equivalent, alpha-tocopherol content, and cholesterol/saturated fat index of their diet. Analysis of the plasma levels of biochemical variables--adjusted for age, smoking (number of cigarettes/day), and body mass index--showed a significant increase of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and apolipoprotein AI concentration in the average drinkers compared with nondrinkers. Plasma alpha-tocopherol and retinol levels were also significantly higher in average drinkers. In the latter group, ANCOVA demonstrated a lower percentage of sphingomyelin in RBCs, with a lower sphingomyelin/PC ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The effect of Moderate Beer consumption on Plasma Homocysteine and Cholesterol Level
Hyperhomocysteinaemia is implicated in various disease states and conditions including cardiovascular diseases. Various studies have shown that moderate beer consumption helps to lower the level of plasma homocysteine which is beneficial to human health. The aim of this study is therefore the determination of the effect of beer on plasma Homocysteine level in healthy adults in Ekpoma, Nigeria. 40 Healthy fasting adult males and females were screened and randomized into two groups; control (water) and beer (1bottle). They had venepuncture while supine and without tourniquet. Homocysteine, tHcy, assay was done using ELISA with tHcy binding protein as the capturing enzyme. Excluded from the study were subjects with impaired renal and hepatic function. Hypertensives and diabetics were also ruled out. The mean level of tHcy in males and females were 8.4 ± 0.8μmol/L and 7.1 ± 0.5μmol/L respectively and these reduced markedly after two weeks of moderate beer consumption. The cholesterol le...