Total homocysteine is not a determinant of arterial pulse wave velocity in young healthy adults

Aims: Hyperhomocysteinaemia has been associated with reduced pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with end-stage renal disease and in those with hypertension. The aim of this study was to examine the association between total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations, the biochemical and genetic determinants of tHcy and PWV in healthy young adults. Methods and results: A total of 489 subjects aged 20–25 years participated. A fasting blood sample was taken and PWV measured using a non-invasive optical method. tHcy did not correlate with PWV, whether assessed at the aorto-iliac segment ( P = 0.18), the aorto-radial segment ( P = 0.39) or the aorto-dorsalis-pedis segment ( P = 0.22). When tHcy was classified into normal (