Background: It is uncertain whether homocysteine
and the metabolic syndrome or its components are related
in the general population, as studies investigating the
association between homocysteine levels and insulin resistance
have shown conflicting results. Methods: In an ancillary
study to the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study, a cohort
study of Iranian men and women aged ≥25 yr, a random sample
of 1754 subjects were evaluated for the association of
plasma homocysteine levels and the metabolic syndrome using
National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult
Treatment Panel (ATP)-III criteria. Total homocysteine levels
and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined
by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Subjects
with lower HDL-cholesterol and higher blood pressure
showed significantly higher homocysteine levels (p=0.001
and p<0.0001; respectively). There was no significant difference
in serum levels of homocysteine between subjects with
and without the metabolic syndrome. In multiple logistic regression
analysis, the metabolic syndrome did not show a
significant association with serum homocysteine levels after
adjusting for sex, age, smoking, fruit and vegetable intake
pattern, body mass index, and physical inactivity. Concurrent
elevated CRP levels and the metabolic syndrome also did not
show a significant association with serum homocysteine levels
after adjusting for sex, age, and lifestyle cardiovascular
risk factors. Conclusions: There was no association between
the metabolic syndrome using NCEP-ATPIII criteria and homocysteinemia
in this study. These data refute the hypothesis
that homocysteine levels are influenced by the metabolic
syndrome, at least in general healthy population