|
|
The prevalence of carotid stenosis of>/=25 percent was 43 percent in the men and 34 percent in the women.The odds ratio for stenosis of>/=25 percent was 2.0(95 percent confidence interval,1.4 to 2.9)for subjects with the highest plasma homocysteine concentrations(>/=14.4 umol per liter)as compared with those with the lowest concentrations(=9 umol per liter),after adjustment for sex,age,plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration,systolic blood pressure,and smoking status(P<0. 001 for trend).Plasma concentrations of folate and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (the coenzyme form of vitamin B6)and the level of folate intake were inversely associated with carotid-artery stenosis after adjustment for age,sex,and other risk factors.High plasma homocysteine concentrations and low concentrations of folate and vitamin B6,through their role in homocysteine metabolism,are associated with an increased risk of extracranial carotid-artery stenosis in the elderly. |
|