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We hypothesized that n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n–3 PUFAs) as compared to corn oil administered for 1 year following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) may reduce plasma total homocysteine (p-tHcy), ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (µCRP), and the adhesive properties of the endothelium, expressed as soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1). In a prospective, randomised, double-blind study, 300 acute MI patients were allocated to highly concentrated n–3 PUFAs (n = 150) or corn oil (n = 150). After 1 year on treatment there was an intergroup difference in p-tHcy in favour of the n–3 group (n = 118), p = 0.022. However, sE-selectin, sICAM-1 and µCRP were unaffected by the treatment. In conclusion, reduction of p-tHcy by long-term n–3 PUFAs treatment was not associated with demonstrable effects on markers of endothelial adhesion properties.

The atherogenic risk profile was improved with K85 in subjects with combined hyperlipidaemia, but n-3 fatty acids supplementation did not affect glucose/insulin homeostasis.

Plasma total homocysteine response was compared in four groups of healthy individuals given orally divided doses of vitamin supplementations for a duration of 5 weeks. The vitamin supplements; A, 0.3 mg folic acid; B, 120 mg vitamin B6; C, combination of 0.3 mg folic acid and 120 mg vitamin B6 or D, 0.6 mg folic acid reduced the concentrations of plasma total homocysteine 20, 17, 32 and 24%, respectively. However, the intergroup comparisons did not show a significant difference in the effects of vitamin supplements. Multivariate analysis with correction for differences in pre-supplement values indicated a significant effect of vitamin B6 supplementation on plasma total homocysteine and serum folate. Our data show that plasma total homocysteine concentrations are reduced with low to medium divided doses of folic acid alone or in combination with vitamin B6.

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