Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia with folic acid reduces oxidative stress in renal transplant recipients
Abdelfatah, A.; Ducloux, D.; Toubin, Gérard.; Motte, Gérard.; Alber, D.; Chalopin, J-Marc.
Transplantation 73(4): 663-665
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-1337 PMID: 11889451 Document Number: 547216
Background: We conducted a prospective, uncontrolled, open study to assess the relationship between homocysteine (tHcy) and oxidative stress in chronic, stable, renal transplant recipients (RTR). Methods: Included in the study were 17 chronic, stable RTR. All the patients received folic acid (5 mg/day). tHcy and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) were measured before and at the end of the study period. Results: Mean tHcy concentration was 26+-10 mumol/L. tHcy significantly decreased during the study period (26+-10 vs. 18+-7 mumol/L; P<0.001). There was a significant inverse relationship between TAOC and tHcy (r=-0.33; P=0.01). TAOC significantly increased during the study period (1.49+-0.23-1.78+-0.6; P<0.001). There was an inverse relationship between the variation in they and the variation in TAOC (r=-0.44; P=0.01). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that hyperhomocysteinemia contributed to increased oxidative stress in RTR. tHcy-lowering treatment with folic acid may lower oxidative stress.