Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. There are controversies about a possible relation between homocysteine and insulin resistance/sensitivity. To test the relation between homocysteinemia and insulin sensitivity, serum total homocysteine concentrations (HPLC) were measured in samples from ninety Parkatêjê Indians (90% of the adult population, without admixture). Insulin sensitivity (%S) was estimated by HOMA. A diabetic woman was excluded from the analysis involving glycaemia, insulin, proinsulin, HbA1c and %S. Hyperhomocysteinemia and fasting hyperinsulinemia were found in 26.7% and 25.8% of Indians, respectively. Log-transformed (ln) homocysteine was positively correlated with systolic (r= 0.22) and diastolic (r= 0.21) blood pressure, triglycerides (r= 0.39) and uric acid (r= 0.40), after adjustment for age and sex, but not with insulin, proinsulin and ln %S. Ln homocysteine was similar among the quartiles of %S and between the subjects with and without fasting hyperinsulinemia. Insulin, proinsulin and ln %S were similar between the subjects with and without hyperhomocisteinemia. Correlations between variables related to cardiovascular risk were observed, but not between these variables and insulin or ln %S. Perhaps this finding could be a peculiar characteristic of this group. In conclusion, the variations in serum homocysteine levels were not related to insulin, proinsulin and %S among the Parkatêjê.
Cardiovascular risk factors; Homocysteine; Brazilian Indians; Insulin sensitivity
