Abstract

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and dyslipidemia are indicators of atherosclerosis, and despite limited data, studies have suggested an association between lipid metabolism and HHcy. This study investigated the correlation between plasma triglyceride (TG) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in a relatively healthy Taiwanese adult population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 3615 participants aged 15–89 years who underwent health checkups at a single medical center in northern Taiwan between 2008 and 2018. TG values were natural log-transformed. HHcy was defined as a plasma Hcy level greater than 15.0 μmol/L. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between TG levels and HHcy by adjusting for potential confounding factors such as sex, age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, plasma glucose, and lipid profile. Subgroup analyses were also conducted.

Results: Of the 3615 participants, the mean age was 53.0 years, with 53.4% being men. The mean plasma Hcy level was 8.9 ± 3.5 mol/L, with 4.0% (145 subjects) exhibiting HHcy. The median (IQR) plasma TG levelwas 114 (81–165)mg/dL. Loge triglycerides (lnTGs) showed an independent association with HHcy. In logistic regression analyses, lnTG levels demonstrated a significant positive correlation with HHcy (adjusted odds ratio = 1.61, 95% CI 1.05–2.45, p = 0.029). Subgroup analyses revealed a significant positive association between lnTG and an increased HHcy risk in those under 65 years of age.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that elevated plasma TG levels are associated with a higher risk of HHcy,  particularly in younger populations.