Author(s)

Donatus Onukwufor Onwuli^*, Helen Anthony Waribo, Eberechkwu Okwuchi Anyalebechi, Loveth Ukamaka Nwafor

Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Background: Homocysteine is an important non-protein amino acid, very useful in all methylation reactions occurring in the body as the precursor of the sole methyl group donor S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAM). However, elevated plasma homocysteine levels have been reported to contribute to epithelial damage leading to coronary artery disease and other metabolic syndromes. This study was aimed at evaluating the concentration of plasma homocysteine in diabetics and hypertensive patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methods: The study population included 60 Type II diabetes mellitus and Hypertensivesubjectsas group (I), 60 Type II diabetes mellitus and Normotensive subjects as group (II), 60 Hypertensive subjects as group (III), and 60 healthy subjects as control group within the age range of 30 - 70 years. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to quantitatively measure homocysteine in the serum sample, glycated haemoglobin were determined quantitatively using sandwich immunodetection and blood pressure was determined using mercury sphygnanometer. Statistics: The statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism version 9.4.1, and statistical significance was determined by a P < 0.05. Results: The results showed significantly higher plasma homocysteine levels in diabetics and hypertensive comorbidity patients when compared to healthy controls, P < 0.013. There was also a significant increase in plasma homocysteine levels in the comorbidity and hypertensives single morbidity, P < 0.0001 and also diabetes single morbidity, but there was no significant difference from the levels in the diabetics and hypertensives single morbidity. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between groups in terms of age range or duration of diagnosis. Conclusion: Our result shows an increase in plasma homocysteine levels in diabetics and hypertensives when compared to controls, and comorbidity instigates a higher increase in plasma levels when compared with the single morbidity.

Hypertensives, Diabetes Mellitus, Homocysteine, Hyperhomocysteinemia

Onwuli, D. , Waribo, H. , Anyalebechi, E. and Nwafor, L. (2023) Evaluation of Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Type II Diabetes and Hypertensive Patients Attending University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11, 30-39. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2023.115003.