White blood cell count is associated with plasma total homocysteine in Japanese men

White blood cell (WBC) count has been related to risk for coronary heart disease. The relationship may be due to the association between WBC count and cardiovascular risk factors. So far, it has been shown that WBC count is associated with body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, blood pressure and some lifestyle factors. It is not known, however, whether WBC count is associated with other risk factors such as total homocysteine or gamma-glutamyl transferase. The association between WBC count, total homocysteine and gamma-glutamyl transferase was analyzed cross-sectionally in middle-aged Japanese men. In a univariate regression analysis WBC count was associated positively with total homocysteine (beta ( standard regression coefficient) = 0.112; p<0.001) but not with gamma-glutamyl transferase (beta = 0.033; p = 0.309). In a multivariate analysis which included cigarette smoking, physical activity, ethanol consumption, vegetable intake and body mass index, the association between WBC count and total homocysteine remained significant (beta = 0.062; p=0.026). The association may partially explain the reported association between elevated WBC count and cardiovascular disease.