Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Vitamin C in Young Malaysian Smokers and Non Smokers: a Preliminary Report Ton, So Harauthor Gill, Shiela Kaurauthor Low, Wai Yeeauthor Voon, Kerk QinauthorHomocysteine, folic acid and vitamin C have been shown to play a role in cardiovascular diseases. As smoking is on the rise in Malaysia and the smokers are getting younger it was decided to determine the levels of homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin C in some young Malaysian smokers. Sera from 105 subjects (65 smokers, 40 non-smokers, ages 20-30 years) were analyzed for homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin C. In non smokers the mean serum folate concentration was 11.9 ± 3.1 ng/ml while the mean serum homocysteine concentration was 9.2 ± 3.1 μmol/L. In smokers the mean serum folate concentration was 7.6 ± 3.7 ng/ml while the homocysteine concentration was 10.7 ± 2.8 μmol/L. Statistical analysis revealed that the smokers had significantly lower folate concentration and higher homocysteine concentration compared to non -smokers (p ≤ 0.05). Homocysteine and vitamin C concentrations in erythrocyte were also determined. The mean erythrocyte homocysteine concentration in non- smokers was 0.29 ± 0.2 μmol/L and in smokers it was 0.24 ± 0.1 μmol/L. However no significant difference was observed between the smokers and non- smokers. Vitamin C analysis showed that there was no difference in its concentration between sera (2.51 ± 2.7 vs 1.02 ± 0.8 ng/ml) and erythrocytes (6.76 ± 2.7 vs 7.17 ± 1.2 ng/ml) of smokers and non-smokers.Q Science, Computer ScienceR Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing2005Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyJournal