Clinical Study Title:
Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in renal transplant recipients. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Plain English Summary:

Many patients who have undergone kidney transplants often suffer from elevated levels of homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine is often associated with arteriosclerosis as well as other forms of heart disease. This study looked at the use of vitamin b6 alone against folic acid with vitamin b12 to help reduce the homocysteine levels. Pariticipants were placed into one of four groups: vitamin b6 alone, folic acid and vitamin b12, vitamin b6 with b12 and folic acid, or a placebo. The levels of homocysteine in the blood were measured and compared across groups. All participants except those taking the placebo had a reduction in the homocysteine levels. This suggests that adding vitamin b6 as a daily supplement can have an added benefit to reducing the homocysteine levels, especially for renal transplant patients.

Authors

Bostom AG. Gohh RY. Beaulieu AJ. Nadeau MR. Hume AL. Jacques PF. Selhub J. Rosenberg IH.

Institution

Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

Annals of Internal Medicine. 127(12):1089-92, 1997 Dec 15.