Distribution of total serum homocysteine and its association with parental history and cardiovascular risk factors at ages 12–16 years: the Third National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey

Purpose To describe the distribution and to assess the association of serum total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration with variables associated with insulin resistance syndrome in adolescent boys and girls. Methods In the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (n = 941) had parental medical history ascertained and glycated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body fat distribution, HDL cholesterol, and serum tHcy concentrations were measured. Results Cumulative distribution of serum tHcy in boys was shifted to the right compared with that in girls. A parental history of high blood pressure or stroke before age 50 was significantly positively associated with the subjectsʹ log serum tHcy after adjustment for confounders (β 0.156, p = 0.003). Log serum tHcy was significantly positively associated with systolic blood pressure in boys after adjustment for confounders (β = 0.21, p = 0.03). Log serum tHcy was not significantly associated with glycated hemoglobin percent or most other risk factors other than age. Log serum tHcy concentration showed borderline significant (r = −0.15, p = 0.044) inverse association with BMI in girls. Conclusion tHcy was associated with parental history of high blood pressure or stroke before age 50 and with systolic blood pressure in adolescent boys.