Duo Li and Andrew J. Sinclair

pp. 139 - 144

Abstract

An increased plasma homocysteine level has been claimed as an independent risk factor, and increased levels of tissue membrane omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) has been suggested to have a protective effect on cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no data on the relationship between the concentrations of plasma homocysteine and phospholipid fatty acid. The aim of this study was to investigate
the relationship of plasma homocysteine with phospholipid fatty acids in healthy male Australian. One hundred and thirty six healthy male subjects aged 20-55 years were recruited from Melbourne metropolitan area. Each volunteer completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and gave a blood sample.
Plasma homocysteine concentrations were determined using HPLC, and plasma phospholipid fatty acids were determined with standard methods. Plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly negatively correlated with plasma phospholipid concentration of PUFA 20:5n-3 (r = -0.226, P = 0.009), 22:5n-3 (r =-0.182, P = 0.036), 22:6n-3 (r = -0.286, P = 0.001), total n-3 (r = -0.270, P = 0.002) and ratio n-3/n-6      PUFA (r =-0.265, P = 0.002), and significantly positively correlated with 20:4n-6 (r = 0.180, P = 0.037). Present results showed that increased concentration of n-3 PUFA in tissues was negatively correlated with plasma homocysteine levels.