Folic acid therapy reduces plasma homocysteine levels and improves plasma antioxidant capacity in hemodialysis patients

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 242 - 247
• Main Authors: Alvares Delfino, Vinicius Daher, Ph.D, de Andrade Vianna, Areuza Célia, Ph.D, Mocelin, Altair Jacob, Ph.D, Barbosa, Décio Sabbatini, Ph.D, Mise, Rosana Aiko, M.Sc, Matsuo, Tiemi, Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-03-2007; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Antioxidant; Antioxidants; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Chronic kidney disease; Dialysis; Double-Blind Method; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Folic acid; Folic Acid - blood; Folic Acid - therapeutic use; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hemodialysis; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide - blood; Hydroperoxide; Hyperhomocysteinemia - drug therapy; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Plasma; Renal Dialysis - adverse effects; Studies; Time Factors; Total plasma antioxidant capacity; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin B Complex - blood; Vitamin B Complex - therapeutic use; Vitamin deficiency; Hydroperoxide; Chronic kidney disease; Antioxidant; Total plasma antioxidant capacity; Folic acid; Kidney disease; Human; Therapy; Urinary system disease; Hemodialysis; Blood plasma; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Homocystein; Renal failure
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2007.01.002

Abstract Objective We evaluated the effects of folic acid on homocysteine levels and oxidative stress in 46 stable patients on hemodialysis. Methods This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial assessed the effects of 6 mo of 10 mg of folic acid (26 patients) or placebo (20 patients) given three times weekly after each dialysis under nurse supervision on homocysteine levels, total plasma antioxidant capacity, and hydroperoxide plasma levels. Results Folic acid treatment normalized plasma homocysteine levels in most patients, significantly increased total plasma antioxidant capacity levels, but had no significant effect on hydroperoxide levels. Placebo treatment had no statistically significant effect on the three parameters. Conclusion The folic acid therapy protocol effectively lowered plasma homocysteine levels and improved the total plasma antioxidant capacity in hemodialysis patients. Further studies are required to assess the usefulness of folic acid for decreasing cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.