Objective: Homocysteine is considered to be a risk factor for atherothrombosis. Vitamins B6, B12 and folate play an important role in its metabolism. Alcohol disrupts homocysteine metabolism. We aimed to follow the changes in these vitamins before and after a regular consumption of white wine and correlate these changes with homocysteine levels. Design: Prospective, observational and intervention study. Settings: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Hematology, Charles University Hospital in Pilsen. Material and Methods: We enrolled 42 volunteers from Pilsner region (Czech Republic). They drunk 375 ml of white wine (in addition to their normal alcohol consumption) with their dinner for 30 days, serum samples were drawn before (S1) and after (S2) wine consumption period and 1 month later (S3). Homocysteine and vitamin B6 were measured in all samples, for vitamins B12 and folate determination 26 volunteers with greatest changes in homocysteine levels before and after consumption of wine were selected. Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate were determined by immunochemical methods, vitamin B6 by a colorimetric method. The influence of measured vitamins on homocysteine values was assesed by multiple linear regression with homocysteine as dependent variable and vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid as independent variables (additive effect). All computations were performed with R 1.9.1 (http://www.r-project.org). Results: We were not able to demonstrate any difference in measured vitamins among S1, S2 and S3, whereas homocysteine increased significantly in S2 (vs. S1, P < 0.0001) and decreased in S3 (vs. S2, P < 0.01), Fig. 1. In a multiple regression model of homocysteine (S2) against vitamins B6 + B12 + folate, the regression coefficient of folate was -0,85 µmol homocysteine/µg of folate (SE=0.32; P < 0.05), remaining independent variables were insignificant in this model (B6 [R2 = -0.004, SE = 0.003], B12 [R2 = -0.006, SE = 0.005]). Adjusted R2 for the whole model was 0.24 (P < 0.05), Fig. 2. In a multiple regression model of homocysteine change (S2-S1) against vitamins B6 + B12 + folate changes (S2-S1), all independent variables were insignificant (folate change[R2 = -0.33, SE = 0.50], B6 change [R2 = 0.004, SE = 0.025, P = 0.87], B12 change [R2 < -0.001, SE = 0.003]). Adjusted R2 for the whole model was -0.106 (P = 0.916). Conclusion: There were no significant changes in vitamin B6, B12 and folate levels after one month daily drinking of 375 ml of white wine. Folate concentration was the main factor influencing homocysteine levels after regular one month drinking of 375 ml of white wine.

        Key words: homocysteine, white wine, vitamins, alcohol.