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

Alvares Delfino, Vinicius Daher; de Andrade Vianna, Areuza Célia; Mocelin, Altair Jacob; Barbosa, Décio Sabbatini; Mise, Rosana Aiko; Matsuo, Tiemi

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2007.01.002

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Volume 23, Issue 3 , Pages 242-247, March 2007

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

Vinicius Daher Alvares Delfino, Ph.D.
- Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +55-43-3323-9191.
Areuza Célia de Andrade Vianna, Ph.D.
- Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Altair Jacob Mocelin, Ph.D.
- Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Décio Sabbatini Barbosa, Ph.D.
- Department of Applied Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Rosana Aiko Mise, M.Sc.
- Department of Applied Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Tiemi Matsuo, Ph.D.
- Department of Applied Mathematics, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil

Received 24 May 2006; received in revised form 4 January 2007 published online 26 February 2007.

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.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease, Total plasma antioxidant capacity, Hydroperoxide, Folic acid, Antioxidant