Skip Navigation
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Use this QR code to view the newest version of this document
Use this QR code to view the newest version of this document

Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Thiol and cardiovascular risk factor status in a male northern Irish population.

Authors: Edgar, Kevin S; Woodside, Jayne V; Skidmore, Paula; Cardwell, Christopher; Farelll, Kathryn; McKinley, Michelle C; Young, Ian S; Whitehead, Alexander S; Gey, K Fred; Yarnell, John W G; Evans, Alun

Published In Int J Vitam Nutr Res, (2008 Jul-Sep)

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Raised plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cysteine has also been associated with CVD risk. In this study, we investigated the association between known CVD risk factors, dietary factors, and total plasma cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine, and homocysteine. METHODS: The study group was 765 male workers aged between 30-49 years. The dietary habits of the subjects were recorded using a food frequency questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and blood pressure were assessed, and fasting blood samples were taken for analysis of serum concentrations of vitamins, lipids, total plasma cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine, and homocysteine, and genotyping for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses, cysteine was significantly positively associated with age and negatively associated with serum vitamin B12 and serum vitamin B6, while cysteinyl-glycine was significantly positively associated with BMI. Homocysteine (tHcy) was significantly negatively associated with serum folate, serum vitamin B12, and fruit and vegetable intake, and also depended on the MTHFR 677C>T genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a significant relationship between age, serum levels of B-vitamins and cysteine, and BMI and cysteinyl-glycine. In agreement with other studies, we also confirm an association between tHcy, serum folate and vitamin B12, MTHFR genotype, and fruit and vegetable intake. Further investigation into the role of these thiols and their determinants in CVD is required.

PubMed ID: 19326344 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Age Factors; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases*/epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases*/etiology; Coffee/adverse effects; Cysteine/blood*; Cysteine/genetics; Dipeptides/blood*; Dipeptides/genetics; Employment; Folic Acid/administration & dosage; Folic Acid/blood; Fruit; Homocysteine/blood*; Homocysteine/genetics; Humans; Ireland; Lipids/blood; Male; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)/genetics*; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Smoking/adverse effects; Sulfhydryl Compounds/blood*; Vegetables; Vitamin B 12/administration & dosage; Vitamin B 12/blood; Vitamin B 6/administration & dosage; Vitamin B 6/blood; Vitamin B Complex/administration & dosage; Vitamin B Complex/blood*

Back
to Top