Abstract
Homocysteine, a metabolite of the sulfur amino acids, is reported to be one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis. It has been reported that accumulation of homocysteine produces atherosclerosis in young patients with homocysteinuria. Indeed, plasma levels of homocysteine were statistically higher in patients with myocardial infarction and those with cerebral infarction. However, the relationship between cholesterol and homocysteine levels remains unclear. In the present study, we reared rabbits on a diet supplemented with 0.2% cholesterol for 22 weeks to confirm the extent to which serum cholesterol affects the level of plasma cysteine and homocysteine. Plasma homocysteine, cysteine, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were estimated at two week intervals. No significant change in the plasma homocysteine or cysteine levels were noted compared to that in normal controls, despite a remarkable increase in serum cholesterol levels.
These findings indicate that the homocysteine level is independent of the serum cholesterol level.
