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Abstract #159997

Hye-Ran Ahn¹, Minho Shin¹, Sun-Seog Kweon², Kyeong Soo Park³, Young-Hoon Lee³, Jin-Su Choi¹, Seongwoo Choi¹, Hye-Yeon Kim¹, and Hee-Nam Kim⁴. (1) School of Medicine Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University, 5 Hakdong, Gwangju, 501-190, South Korea, (82)017-612-3160, ahn12010@naver.com, (2) Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 160 Ilsim-ri, Hwasun,Jeonnam, South Korea, (3) School of Medicine Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University, 720 Gwangchidong, Namwon,Jeollabukdo, 590-711, South Korea, (4) Genome Research Center for Hematopietic Diseases, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 160 Ilsim-ri, Hwasun, Jeonnam, 519-809, South Korea

Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is known as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Folate intake is inversely associated with tHcy. The reference data for tHcy and plasma folate levels, however, are varied by race, ethnicity and country. The aim of this study was to determine the reference values of tHcy and folate levels in Korean adults. Plasma folate and tHcy were measured in a random sample of 1,700 subjects aged 20-74 years (821 men and 879 women) living in two southwestern provinces of South Korea. The geometric mean of tHcy concentration was 8.0 and 5.7 µmol/L for men and women, respectively. The geometric mean of plasma folate concentration was 8.6 and 11.0 ng/ml for men and women, respectively. The mean tHcy concentration observed in our study was lower than those observed in other countries. The folate concentration was higher than those observed in other countries without national folate fortification program. The reasons for relatively low tHcy and high folate concentration are not clear but possibly associated with the Korean diet which tends to be high in green leafy vegetables and other plant foods that are rich in folic acid. The differences in lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking and coffee consumption may be associated with low tHcy and high folate level. These results suggest that national folate fortification program be introduced based on the epidemiological evidence.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Discuss the significance of reference values for homocysteine and folate levels in various population.
• 2.Evaluate the necessity of nationwide folate fortification program.

Keywords: Nutrition, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No