Ethnicity does not affect the homocysteine-lowering effect of b-vitamin therapy in singaporean stroke patients

Abstract

Background and purpose-: Increased total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for stroke. This study examines whether the efficacy of B-vitamins in reducing tHcy is modified by ethnicity in a Singaporean ischemic stroke population. Methods-: 505 patients (419 Chinese, 41 Malays and 45 Indians) with ischemic stroke were randomized to receive placebo or B-vitamins. Fasting blood samples collected at baseline and 1 year were assayed for tHcy. MTHFR polymorphisms were genotyped. Results-: Ethnicity did not independently determine tHcy at baseline. The magnitude of tHcy reduction by B-vitamin treatment was consistent across ethnic groups (Chinese -3.8±4.5, Malay -4.9±4.2, and Indian -3.3±3.6μmol/L) despite ethnic differences in MTHFR genotype and baseline folic acid (FA) and vitamin B12 (vitB12) concentrations. Conclusions-: Ethnicity does not appear to affect the tHcy-lowering effect of B-vitamins, despite differences in dietary intake and prevalence of MTHFR polymorphisms. This suggests that the effect of B-vitamins in lowering tHcy is generalizable across Asian populations. However, due to relatively small numbers of non-Chinese studied, confirmation in other populations is required. © 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.