Levels of Plasma Homocysteine in Subjects with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is probably a frequent glycemic disorder in the general population and is considered as a prediabetic state. Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The present study was designed to evaluate homocysteine levels in subjects with IFG compared with normal subjects and those with diabetes mellitus. Age, sex and body mass index matched 40 normoglycemic healthy subjects, 40 subjects with IFG (fasting glucose 110 to 125 mg/dl), and 40 patients with type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose >= 126 mg/dl) were included in the study. The levels of plasma homocysteine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, IFG, and normal subjects were 14.8 +/- 2.7 mu mol/, 12.4 +/- 2.1 mu mol/, and 11.1 +/- 1.4 mu mol/l, respectively. Subjects with IFG had significantly lower homocysteine levels than type 2 diabetic patients (p<0.000). There were significantly higher homocysteine levels in subjects with IFG than in normal subjects (p=0.018). Our data suggest that one possible mechanism by which subjects with IFG may be at increased cardiovascular risk.