HART – Homocysteine and Atherosclerosis Reduction Trial

Principal contacts

Eva Lonn, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Salim Yusuf, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Study design

The Homocysteine and Atherosclerosis Reduction Trial (HART) is a two-arm clinical trial and a substudy of the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation 2 (HOPE-2) with multiple centres based in Canada. The principal aim of the trial was to investigate the effect of Folic Acid (2.5mg/day), Vitamins B6 (50mg/day), and Vitamins B12 (1mg/day) versus placebo on atherosclerosis progression. Individuals were eligible for inclusion if they were aged 55 years or older, had a history of coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and at least one additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The research ethics review board of each participating centre approved the trial, and all participants provided written informed consent.

Link to study webpage – https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00217178

 

Key publications

Correlations between plasma homocysteine and folate concentrations and carotid atherosclerosis in high-risk individuals: baseline data from the Homocysteine and Atherosclerosis Reduction Trial (HART). Vasc Med. 2008 Nov;13(4):245-53