• S J Moat, M H Hill, I F W McDowell, C H Pullin, P A L Ashfield-Watt, Z E Clark, J M Whiting, R G Newcombe, M J Lewis, and H J Powers.
• The Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield, The Northern General Hospital, UK.
• Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Mar 1; 57 (3): 483-9.

BackgroundVarious mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and risk of cardiovascular disease, including oxidative activity of homocysteine.ObjectiveTo explore the putative role of reactive oxygen species in the association between plasma tHcy and risk of cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals.DesignA double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover intervention to increase folate intake through diet (increased consumption of folate-rich foods) and supplement (400 micro g folic acid) was carried out in 126 healthy men and women. Measurements were made of antioxidant activity in red blood cells and plasma, and products of oxidant damage in plasma.ResultsDiet and supplement-based interventions led to an increase in measures of folate status and a reduction in plasma tHcy. This was not associated with any significant change in measures of antioxidant activity (plasma and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase activity and red blood cell superoxide dismutase activity) or oxidant damage (plasma malondialdehyde), although an improvement in plasma total antioxidant capacity just failed to reach significance.ConclusionsIn healthy individuals lowering plasma tHcy does not have any functional implications regarding oxidative damage.

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