Reduction of plasma lipid and homocysteine levels by pyridoxine, folate, cobalamin, choline, riboflavin, and troxerutin in atherosclerosis.

Elevated plasma homocysteine and lipid levels are risk factors for atherosclerosis. The plasma levels of homocysteine, determined in acid hydrolyzates of plasma, were found to be correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.47, P less than 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.40, P less than 0.01), and body mass index (r = 0.42, P less than 0.01) in 52 males, aged 30-60. A group of 12 male survivors of acute myocardial infarction was given pyridoxine, folate, cobalamin, choline, riboflavin, and troxerutin for 21 days. The plasma concentrations of homocysteine and alpha-amino adipic acid declined to 68% (P less than 0.001) and 57% (P less than 0.001) of the pretreatment values, and the cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL apo B declined to 79% (P less than 0.001), 68% (P less than 0.01), and 63% (P less than 0.001) of the pretreatment values, respectively. The results suggest a new strategy for control of the metabolic abnormalities in atherosclerosis through the use of naturally occurring, non-toxic nutrients which minimize homocysteine accumulation.