Scientific articles

Elevated homocysteine is associated with cardiovascular and brain damage and osteoporosis. The main cause of elevated homocysteine is a nutritional deficit of B vitamins and folates. The aim of the present study was to assess the relation between biomarkers related to the metabolism of B vitamins, bone mineral density, and the risk of bone fracture. For this purpose, the authors collected homocysteine and bone mineral density values from 2,806 women participating in the NHANES study between 1999 and 2004 throughout the United States, among other biomarkers. The conclusion of the study confirms that elevated homocysteine levels are associated with age, low levels of vitamin B and lower bone mineral density.

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The aim of the present study was to examine the long-term prognosis in asymptomatic individuals with a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of 0. Previous studies show a CAC score of 0 as a favorable cardiovascular short-to intermediate-term prognostic factor, but there are no long-term data. For this purpose, the authors analyzed the CAC and qualified the cardiovascular risk based on the Framingham scale of 9,715 individuals for an average of 14.6 years. Of these, 4,864 had a CAC of zero at the start of the study and of these, 229 died during the 14.6 years. Analysis of the results showed that when the Framinghan risk score is low or intermediate, a CAC of “0” was associated with a vascular age of 1 year less than the chronological age of individuals between 50 and 59; a vascular age 10 years less than the chronological age of those between 60-69; a vascular age 20 years less than the chronological age of those between 70-79; and a vascular age 30 years less than the chronological age of those over 80, i.e. they have a vascular age of a 50-year-old. All this regardless of sex. The authors conclude that a CAC of 0 in individuals with a low or intermediate cardiovascular risk has a powerful prognostic value (greater than the Framinghan score) of cardiovascular risk at 15 years regardless of age and sex. Moreover, a CAC of 0 in individuals with a high cardiovascular risk factor confers a longer survival rate than having a positive CAC (greater than zero) even if coronary risk factors are low or intermediate.

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