Effect Of Folic Acid On Endothelial Function As Well As Plasma Homocysteine In Hypertensive Patients

Objective: To evaluate the effect of oral folic acid on enthelial function as well as plasma homocysteine (Hcy) in hypertensive patients. Methods: Fifty-two patients with mild essential hypertention were divided with randomized principle into two groups:folic acid administrative group (30) and control group (22). Flow-medicated dilation (endothelium dependent dilation,FMD) and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation(endothelium independent dilation,EID) using high-resolution ultrasound were measured before and 12 weeks after treatment .The level of plasma homocysteine were measured using enzymoimmunoassay before and after treatment,then use t test to compare their satistic difference. Results: The difference of baseline diameter(D₀) in two groups are not statistically significant before and after treatment. Flow-mediated dilatation of patients with folic acid administration group (11.37±4.22%) was improved significantly compared with pretherapy (7.13±3.36%) and control group (8.58±3.48%)(p<0.05).But there was no change in endothelium-independent dilation which was measured by nitroglycerin-induced response after folic acid administration 12 weeks. Plasma homocysteine(12.66±3.20μmol/L) was reduced significantlycompared with pretreatment(16.63±3.48umol/L) and control group (14.54±4.77umol/L) (p<0.01). Conclusion: Folic acid administration improves arterial endothelial function in hypertensive patients and reduces plasma Hey. Improvement of endothial function by folic acid treatment in hypertention has no significant correlation with reduction of plasma Hey.