Effect of Homocysteine-Lowering Treatment With Folic Acid and B Vitamins on Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Homocysteinemia may play an etiologic role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes by promoting oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether homocysteine-lowering treatment by B vitamin supplementation prevents the risk of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study (WAFACS), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 5,442 female health professionals aged ≥40 years with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or three or more CVD risk factors, included 4,252 women free of diabetes at baseline. Participants were randomly assigned to either an active treatment group (daily intake of a combination pill of 2.5 mg folic acid, 50 mg vitamin B6, and 1 mg vitamin B12) or to the placebo group. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.3 years, 504 women had an incident diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Overall, there was no significant difference between the active treatment group and the placebo group in diabetes risk (relative risk 0.94 [95% CI 0.79–1.11]; P = 0.46), despite significant lowering of homocysteine levels. Also, there was no evidence for effect modifications by baseline intakes of dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. In a sensitivity analysis, the null result remained for women compliant with their study pills (0.92 [0.76–1.10]; P = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Lowering homocysteine levels by daily supplementation with folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 did not reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among women at high risk for CVD

The geckos of the Galapagos Archipelago

Volume: 1Start Page: 405End Page: 43

Description of a new subspecies of boa (Charina bottae utahensis) from Utah

Volume: 10Start Page: 31End Page: 3

Description of a new lizard (Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis) from Lower California

Volume: 10Start Page: 33End Page: 3

Four species of Salamanders new to the state of California, with a description of Plethodon elongatus a new species, and notes on other salamanders

Volume: 6Start Page: 215End Page: 22

Concerning the origin of the soft-shelled turtle, Aspidonectes californiana Rivers

Volume: 7Start Page: 33End Page: 3