Key result
Higher plasma homocysteine linked to ~106% greater arterial stiffness risk per μmol/L increase.
Why the study?
Are elevated homocysteine levels associated with increased arterial stiffness in the adult population?
Meta-Analysis (n=31,049)
Are elevated homocysteine levels associated with increased arterial stiffness in the adult population?
Elevated plasma and serum homocysteine levels are significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness in adults, highlighting a potential mechanism for vascular dysfunction.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports homocysteine-arterial stiffness link in adults; hypothesis-generating, with RCTs needed before clinical adoption.
PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the association between homocysteine levels and arterial stiffness in the adult population. METHODS: Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched from their inception to November 30, 2024. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to calculate pooled odds ratio (OR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of the associations between homocysteine levels (plasma and serum homocysteine) and arterial stiffness in the adult population. RESULTS: Finally, 17 studies were included in the systematic review, and 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and included a total of 31 049 subjects. Our findings provide evidence supporting the associations between plasma homocysteine levels and arterial stiffness (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.50, 2.82) and between serum homocysteine levels and arterial stiffness (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.17, 2.65) in the adult population. CONCLUSION: For each μmol/L unit increase in homocysteine levels, the risk of arterial stiffness increased by 106% for plasma homocysteine and by 76% for serum homocysteine. These findings are of clinical importance for understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in vascular dysfunction to establish preventive strategies in the cardiovascular setting.
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Saz-Lara et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Arterial stiffness (n=31,049). Homocysteine levels (plasma and serum) was evaluated on Arterial stiffness (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.50, 2.82). Plasma and serum homocysteine levels were significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness in adults (plasma OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.50-2.82; serum OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.17-2.65).
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