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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on March 11, 2004
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Human Reproduction, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1031-1035, April 2004
© 2004 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Endothelial function in post-menopausal women: effect of folic acid supplementation

Giancarlo Paradisi1,3, Francesco Cucinelli1, Maria Cristina Mele1, Angela Barini1, Antonio Lanzone2 and Alessandro Caruso1

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome and 2 Oasi Institute of Research, Troina (Enna), Italy

3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Via Servilio IV 4, 00178 Rome, Italy. e-mail: giancarlo.paradisi{at}tin.it

BACKGROUND: Higher than normal homocysteine levels are associated with an increased incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in post-menopausal women, perhaps via hyperhomocysteinaemia-induced vascular endothelial damage. Because folic acid supplementation reduces homocysteine levels, we attempted to evaluate whether folic acid supplementation may affect endothelial function in post-menopausal women. METHODS: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (endothelium-dependent) and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation (endothelium-independent) before and after a methionine load were analysed in 15 healthy post-menopausal women. Plasma levels of folate, homocysteine, glucose, insulin and lipids were measured, as was blood pressure. All studies were repeated after 1 month supplementation with 7.5 mg/day of folic acid. RESULTS: After folate, endothelial function rose 37% over pre-folic acid supplementation value (P < 0.001), and flow-mediated dilation before folic acid was reduced by 62% subsequent to methionine loading (P < 0.0001); this reduction was still present after folic acid, but was only 19% (P < 0.001). Nitroglycerin-induced dilatation did not change in response to methionine loading before or after folic acid supplementation. Among the other cardiovascular risk factors studied, only high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol showed significant changes after folic acid supplementation, with a 6% increase (P < 0.03) and a 9% decrease (P < 0.03) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, these results indicate that folic acid supplementation may improve endothelial function and lipid profile in post-menopausal women, thus contributing to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

Key words: endothelium/folic acid/menopause


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 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
P. Villa, C. Perri, R. Suriano, F. Cucinelli, S. Panunzi, M. Ranieri, C. Mele, and A. Lanzone
L-Folic Acid Supplementation in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Effect on Homocysteine and Glycolipid Metabolism
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2005; 90(8): 4622 - 4629.
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