This study examined the relationship between homocysteine and its metabolites, and hypertension in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with essential hypertension. Serum homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione were measured in 86 patients with a diagnosis of essential hypertension and compared with those of an age- and sex-matched control group. Patients with hypertension had significantly higher mean serum concentrations of homocysteine, cysteine and cysteinylglycine. The odds ratio for hypertension for those with a mean serum homocysteine concentration above 18 μmol/1 was 2.8. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a risk factor for hypertension in Sri Lankans and can lead to a threefold increase in risk.
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