[Effect of low-dose folate treatment on plasma homocystyeine and chemokine levels in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of low-dose folate on plasma homocysteinemia (Hcy) and chemokine levels in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). METHODS Forty HHcy patients were treated with 0.8 mg/d folate for 6 months. Plasma levels of Hcy, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured before and after folate treatment. RESULTS Plasma level of Hcy significantly decreased after folate treatment [(57.1 +/- 18.0) micromol/L vs (25.8 +/- 12.0) micromol/L, P <0.05]. However, the plasma levels of MCP-1, IL-8, SOD, and MDA were not changed after folate treatment. CONCLUSION Folate treatment can decrease the plasma Hcy level in HHcy patients; however, it has no obvious effects on the chemokine levels.