Association between plasma homocysteine and extracranial carotid arterial disease in oldor persons

The Framingham Heart Study demonstrated that elevated plasma homocysteine levels and low plasma folate and vitamin B6 levels were associated with an increased risk of ECAD in their older population. Our data demonstrated that high plasma homocysteine levels and low plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels were associated with a higher prevalence of 40% to 100% ECAD in our older men and women. Elevated plasma homocysteine levels were observed in 45% of our older men with 40% to 100% ECAD versus 20% of our older men with 0% to 39% ECAD, and in 40% of our older women with 40% to 100% ECAD versus 18% of our older women with 0% to 39% ECAD.