--- title: "Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular…" description: "Higher homocysteine levels are moderately associated with an increased risk of cardiac events and ischemic stroke." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html" type: "study" study_key: "d12393075" journal: "J Clin Epidemiol" year: 2002 pmid: "12393075" doi: "10.1016/s0895-4356(02)00434-1" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d12393075 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | J Clin Epidemiol | | Year | 2002 | | PMID | [12393075](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12393075/) | | DOI | [10.1016/s0895-4356(02)00434-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0895-4356%2802%2900434-1) | | Study key | d12393075 | ## Takeaway Higher homocysteine levels are moderately associated with an increased risk of cardiac events and ischemic stroke. ## The question Does total plasma homocysteine level increase the risk of cardiovascular disease? ## Hypothesis The role of homocysteine as a cardiovascular disease risk factor is controversial, with conflicting results from different study types. ## Methods This meta-analysis synthesized data from 14 published prospective cohort studies. Average relative risks (ARRs) were calculated using fixed and random effect models. The study also assessed for publication and selection bias and the impact of individual studies on the ARR. ## Results No evidence of publication bias (P =.62) or heterogeneity (P =.56) was found. The ARR for cardiac events was 1.49 (95% CI: 1.31-1.70), and for ischemic stroke, it was 1.37 (95% CI: 0.99-1.99). Age and duration of follow-up did not significantly alter these ARRs. ## Conclusion Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with a moderate increase in the risk of a first cardiovascular event, independent of age and follow-up duration. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the meta-analysis itself, beyond acknowledging the prior controversy and potential for reverse causality bias in case-control studies. ## Verbatim from the abstract > Hyperhomocysteinemia moderately increases the risk of a first cardiovascular event ## Average Relative Risk of Cardiovascular Events with Hyperhomocysteinemia | Measure | Average Relative Risk | | --- | --- | | Cardiac Events | 1.49 | | Ischemic Stroke | 1.37 | *The average relative risk for cardiac events was 1.49, and for ischemic stroke, it was 1.37.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Homocysteine Test | — | — | ## Reference 1. **Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies** J Clin Epidemiol 2002 · [PMID 12393075](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12393075/) · [DOI 10.1016/s0895-4356(02)00434-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0895-4356%2802%2900434-1) > Hyperhomocysteinemia moderately increases the risk of a first cardiovascular event ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html","name":"Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort…","description":"Higher homocysteine levels are moderately associated with an increased risk of cardiac events and ischemic stroke.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d12393075.html#study","name":"Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies","headline":"Total plasma homocysteine level and risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort…","datePublished":"2002","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Clin Epidemiol"},"identifier":"PMID:12393075","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12393075/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1016/s0895-4356%2802%2900434-1","abstract":"Higher homocysteine levels are moderately associated with an increased risk of cardiac events and ischemic stroke."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Evidence: Plasma homocysteine](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s146.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).