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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on March 11, 2004
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh189
© 2004 by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
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Received September 18, 2003
Revised January 18, 2004
Accepted February 4, 2004

Article

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

Giancarlo Paradisi 1*, Francesco Cucinelli 2, Maria Cristina Mele 2, Angela Barini 2, Antonio Lanzone 3, and Alessandro Caruso 2

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Via Servilio IV 4, 00178 Rome, Italy
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
3 Oasi Institute of Research, Troina (Enna), Italy

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: giancarlo.paradisi{at}tin.it.


  Abstract

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: 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.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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