Skip to main content
PMC home page
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry logoLink to Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry
. 2008 Oct 1;23(3):255–257. doi: 10.1007/s12291-008-0057-8

Plasma Homocysteine, Folate and Vitamin B12 levels in senile cataract

S K Sen 1,✉, P Pukazhvanthen 1, Rebecca Abraham 1
PMCID: PMC3453456  PMID: 23105765

Abstract

Elevated plasma Homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for age related (senile) cataract. Certain nutritional deficiencies, in particular Folate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 relate inversely with Homocysteine level. This study was undertaken to evaluate the plasma level of Vitamin B12, Folate, and Homocysteine of cataract patients and to study the interplay between them. Serum Homocysteine level is significantly increased in cataract patients when compared with control (p< 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the level of Folate as compared with control (p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between Homocysteine vs. Vitamin B12 (p<0.01) and Folate (p<0.01) in the Cataract patients. Our findings suggest that increased plasma Homocysteine level is associated with decreased plasma levels of Folate and VitaminB12 in Cataract patients, which might have a possible role in the root cause of cataract pathogenesis.

Key words: Homocysteine, Senile cataract, Vitamin B12, Folate

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (117.0 KB).

References

  • 1.Thylfors B., Negrel A.D., Pararajasegaram R., Dadzie K.Y. Global data on blindness. Bull World Health Organ. 1995;73:115–121. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Livingston P.M., Carson C.A., Taylor H.R. The epidemiology of cataract: a review of the literature. Opthalmic epidemiol. 1995;2:151–164. doi: 10.3109/09286589509057097. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Sarma U., Brunner E., Evans J., Wormald R. Nutrition and the epidemiology of cataract and age related maculopathy. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1994;48:1–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Puustjarvi T., Blomster H., Kontkanen M., Punnonen K., Terasvirte M. Plasma and aqueous humour levels of homocysteine in exfoliation syndrome. Graefe’s Arch Clin Experimental ophthalmol. 2004;242(9):749–754. doi: 10.1007/s00417-004-0918-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Cumurcu T., Salvin S., Ardin Serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, Folic acid in different types of glaucoma. BMC Ophthalmol. 2006;6:1–6. doi: 10.1186/1471-2415-6-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.McCully K.S. Homocysteine theory of Arteriosclerosis: development and current status. Ateroscler Rev. 1983;11:157–246. [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Welch G.N., Loscalzo J. Homocysteine, atherothrombosis. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1042–1050. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199804093381507. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Boushey C.J., Bertesford S.A., Omenn G.S., Motulsky A.G. A quantitative assessment of plasma Homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. Probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA. 1995;274:1049–1057. doi: 10.1001/jama.274.13.1049. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Kuzniarz M., Mitchell P., Cumming R.G., Flood V.M. Use of vitamin supplements and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Am J Ophthal. 2001;132(1):19–26. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9394(01)00922-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Bergman B., Nilsson-Ehle H., Sjostrand J. Ocular changes, risk markers for eye disorders and effects of cataract surgery in elderly people: a study of an urban Swedish population followed from 70 to 97 years of age. Acta Ophthalologica Scandinavia. 2004;82(2):166–174. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0420.2004.00182.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Estimation of VitB12, Folic acid, Homocysteine on Immulite as supplied by company kits(Diagnostic Products Corporation, Corporate Offices, 5210 Pacific Concourse Drive, Losangeles, CA 90045-6900, USA).
  • 12.Gornall A.G., Bardawill C.S., David M.M. Determination of serum proteins by means of the Biuret reaction. J Biol Chem. 1949;177:751–766. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Dumas B.T., Watson W.A., Biggs H.G. Albumin standards and the measurement of serum albumin with bromocresol green. Clin Chim Acta. 1971;31:87–96. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(71)90365-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Trinder P. Determination of blood glucose using an oxidase-peroxidase system with a non-carcinogenic chromogen. J Clin Pathol. 1969;22(2):158–161. doi: 10.1136/jcp.22.2.158. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Selhub J., Jacques P.F., Wilson P.W., Rush D., Rosenberg I.H. Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA. 1993;270:2693–2698. doi: 10.1001/jama.270.22.2693. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Hao L., Ma J., Zhu J., Stampfer M.J., Tian Y., Willett W.C., et al. High prevalence of Hyperhomocysteinemia in Chinese Adults is associated with low Folate, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6 Status. J Nutr. 2007;137:407–413. doi: 10.1093/jn/137.2.407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Henecke J.W., Rosen H., Suzuki L.A., Chait A. The role of sulfur containing amino acids in superoxide production and modification of low density lipoprotein by arterial smooth muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 1987;262:10098–10103. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Olszewski A.J., McCully K.S. Homocysteine metabolism and oxidative modification of proteins and lipids. Free Radic Biol Med. 1993;14:683–693. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(93)90151-J. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Stamler J.S., Osborne J.A., Jaraki O., Rabbani L.E., Mullins M., Singel D., Loscalzo J. Adverse effect of homocysteine are modulated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor and related oxides of nitrogen. J Clin Invest. 1993;91:308–318. doi: 10.1172/JCI116187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Misra H.P. Generation of superoxide free radical during auto-oxidation of thiols. J Biol Chem. 1974;249:2151–2155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Rowley D.A., Halliwell B. Superoxide-dependent formation of hydroxyl radicals in the presence of thiol compounds. FEBS Lett. 1982;138:33–36. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(82)80388-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Zoric L. Parameters of oxidative stress in the lens aqueous humor and blood in patients with diabetes and senile cataracts. Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo. 2003;131(3–4):137–142. doi: 10.2298/sarh0304137z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Malnar G.A., Nemes V., Biro Z., Ludany A., Wagner Z., Wittmann I. Accumulation of hydroxyl free radical markers meta-orthotyrosine and DOPA in cataractous lenses is accompanied by a lower protein and phenylalanine content of the water-soluble phase. Free Radical Research. 2005;39:1359–1366. doi: 10.1080/10715760500307107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Altomare E., Grattagliano I., Vendemaile G., Micelli-Ferrari T., Signorile A., Cardia L. Oxidative protein damage in human diabetic eye;evidnal participation. Eur J Clin Invest (ENGLAND) 1997;27(2):141–147. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.780629.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Jain A.K., Lim G., Langford M., Jain S.K. Effects of high glucose levels on protein oxidation in cultured lens cells, and in crystalline and albumin solution and its inhibition by vitamin B6 and N-acetylcysteine:its possible relevance to cataract formation in diabetes. Free Radic Biol Med. 2002;33:1651–1621. doi: 10.1016/S0891-5849(02)01109-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES