See corresponding editorial on page 241. Serum folate and homocysteine and the incidence of acute coronary events: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study1–3

Background: Several, but not all, prospective studies have shown that low folate intakes, low circulating folate concentrations, or high plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Objective: We examined the relations of both serum folate and serum tHcy concentrations with acute coronary events in middle-aged men from eastern Finland who had no CAD at baseline. Design: In a population-based prospective cohort study, 1027 men aged 46–64 y were examined in 1991–1993 as part of the Kuopi