Effect of Folic Acid Supplementation on Serum Homocystene and Lipid Profile in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

This double blind randomized placebo controlled experimental study was carried out at the department of Biochemistry and Cardiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh over a period of one year. A total number of sixty (60) hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients of both sexes, age ranging 35 to 65 years, agreed after informed written consent, were included in the study. Cases were selected purposively on the basis of specified inclusion and exclusion criteria from hospitalized diagnosed patients of AMI.

After detail history, clinical examination, physical and anthropometrics measurements study subjects were randomized into two groups and treated with 5 mg folic acid or placebo for 4 weeks. Fasting serum homocysteine (Hcy) and lipid profile of all the study subjects were estimated both before starting the drug and after completion of treatment, Hcy concentration was estimated by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method in 'AxSYM system' (Abbott, USA). Statistical analyses were done by using 'SPSS 12.0, continuous data were expressed as mean ± SEM and categorical data in percentage (%) and frequency. AMI patients Hcy concentration was higher than normal reference value (5 - 15 mmol/L). Folic acid supplementation decreased serum Hcy concentration very significantly (p<0.001) in drug group (from 25.92 ± 2.47 to 15.38 ± 0.68 mmol/L) but effect in placebo group was found no significant (p>0.05). In this study folic acid supplementation at a dose of 5 mg/day decreased Hcy concentration almost by 27%. Folic acid supplementation significantly (p<0.05) increased HDL concentration but shown no significant effect on other parameter of lipid profiles.

Key words: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), homocystein (Hcy), folic acid (Folate).

DOI: 10.3329/jafmc.v5i2.4578

JAFMC Bangladesh Vol.5(2) (December) 2009, pp.21-23