Alcohol increases homocysteine and reduces B vitamin concentration in healthy male volunteers-a randomized, crossover intervention study

Background: Few studies have examined the effect of alcohol consumption on total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations. Aim: To assess the effect of an 8-week intervention with vodka or red wine on plasma tHcy and B vitamin concentrations in healthy male volunteers. To assess the effect on tHcy according to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677CT genotype. Design and methods: A randomized controlled crossover intervention study measuring tHcy and serum folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations was conducted in 78 male subjects (2170 years). Following a 2-week washout period during which no alcohol was consumed, all subjects consumed 24 g alcohol (either 240 ml red wine or 80 ml vodka)/day for a 2-week period. Following a further 2-week washout, participants consumed the alternate intervention for 2 weeks. Results: A significant increase in plasma tHcy was observed after the 2-week red wine intervention (5, P = 0.03), and a non-significant increase in tHcy with vodka intervention (3, P = 0.09). When the two interventions were compared, the change in tHcy did not differ between the vodka and red wine interventions (P = 0.57). There were significant decreases in serum vitamin B-12 and folate concentrations, and this decrease did not differ between interventions. The increase in tHcy observed in both interventions did not vary by MTHFR 677CT genotype. Conclusions: A 2-week alcohol intervention resulted in a decrease in folate and vitamin B-12 status and an increase in plasma tHcy. The effect of alcohol intervention on tHcy, folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations did not differ between the red wine and vodka intervention groups.