Table 1.4.a. Plasma homocysteine: Total population

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of plasma concentrations (in µmol/L) for the total U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

7.36

(7.26-7.46)

3.92

(3.83-4.02)

7.36

(7.25-7.47)

13.6

(13.3-14.1)

16071

3–5 years

4.26

(4.15-4.37)

2.84

(2.70-3.04)

4.24

(4.17-4.38)

6.16

(5.81-6.40)

830

6–11 years

4.53

(4.44-4.63)

3.06

(2.93-3.23)

4.51

(4.42-4.60)

6.74

(6.53-6.97)

1933

12–19 years

5.98

(5.87-6.10)

3.82

(3.65-3.95)

5.90

(5.79-6.03)

9.57

(9.34-9.91)

4357

20–39 years

7.25

(7.15-7.36)

4.37

(4.21-4.53)

7.21

(7.12-7.31)

12.0

(11.6-12.4)

3194

40–59 years

8.28

(8.17-8.38)

5.25

(5.17-5.35)

8.13

(8.02-8.23)

13.4

(12.8-14.1)

2703

60 years and older

10.0

(9.80-10.3)

6.20

(6.12-6.32)

9.67

(9.40-9.93)

18.4

(17.6-19.0)

3054

Males

Total, 3 years and older

7.92

(7.81-8.03)

4.14

(4.02-4.23)

8.06

(7.92-8.17)

14.3

(13.8-14.7)

7811

3–5 years

4.35

(4.23-4.48)

3.05

(2.69-3.31)

4.31

(4.20-4.48)

6.16

(5.82-6.32)

432

6–11 years

4.60

(4.48-4.71)

3.08

(2.91-3.26)

4.57

(4.48-4.70)

6.90

(6.47-7.23)

988

12–19 years

6.35

(6.21-6.49)

3.96

(3.74-4.23)

6.24

(6.14-6.40)

9.96

(9.54-10.9)

2177

20–39 years

8.21

(8.06-8.36)

5.58

(5.37-5.74)

8.07

(7.87-8.20)

12.8

(12.1-13.8)

1358

40–59 years

9.10

(8.94-9.26)

6.20

(5.99-6.50)

8.90

(8.70-9.13)

14.0

(13.0-14.7)

1345

60 years and older

10.7

(10.5-10.9)

6.85

(6.53-7.09)

10.4

(10.1-10.7)

18.5

(17.6-19.0)

1511

Females

Total, 3 years and older

6.87

(6.76-6.98)

3.76

(3.65-3.87)

6.79

(6.67-6.88)

12.9

(12.5-13.3)

8260

3–5 years

4.16

(4.01-4.32)

2.74

(2.60-3.01)

4.22

(4.03-4.37)

6.16

(5.76-6.53)

398

6–11 years

4.47

(4.36-4.58)

3.04

(2.91-3.23)

4.45

(4.27-4.59)

6.58

(6.18-7.02)

945

12–19 years

5.62

(5.48-5.77)

3.65

(3.46-3.90)

5.58

(5.42-5.73)

8.84

(8.28-9.57)

2180

20–39 years

6.43

(6.30-6.57)

3.85

(3.64-4.08)

6.42

(6.25-6.55)

10.4

(9.81-11.4)

1836

40–59 years

7.56

(7.43-7.69)

4.94

(4.75-5.05)

7.36

(7.20-7.52)

12.9

(12.3-13.4)

1358

60 years and older

9.58

(9.29-9.87)

6.07

(5.93-6.18)

9.12

(8.90-9.37)

18.2

(16.9-19.4)

1543

Table 1.4.b. Plasma homocysteine: Mexican Americans

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of plasma concentrations (in µmol/L) for Mexican Americans in the U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

6.35

(6.18-6.52)

3.54

(3.45-3.62)

6.35

(6.14-6.51)

11.6

(11.2-12.0)

4725

3–5 years

4.10

(3.92-4.29)

2.84

(2.66-3.11)

4.09

(3.84-4.33)

5.80

(5.37-6.41)

271

6–11 years

4.45

(4.34-4.56)

3.04

(2.82-3.25)

4.43

(4.30-4.61)

6.47

(6.18-6.60)

656

12–19 years

5.73

(5.58-5.90)

3.74

(3.59-3.92)

5.65

(5.47-5.85)

9.06

(8.59-9.54)

1643

20–39 years

6.77

(6.62-6.93)

4.08

(3.88-4.24)

6.80

(6.60-6.93)

11.8

(10.9-12.5)

870

40–59 years

7.66

(7.38-7.94)

4.79

(4.47-5.08)

7.48

(7.18-7.89)

11.7

(11.3-12.4)

634

60 years and older

9.57

(9.03-10.1)

5.63

(5.35-6.21)

9.34

(8.61-10.1)

17.7

(16.1-19.4)

651

Males

Total, 3 years and older

6.98

(6.81-7.17)

3.76

(3.60-3.87)

7.02

(6.87-7.20)

12.4

(11.9-12.8)

2305

3–5 years

4.13

(3.97-4.29)

2.69†

(2.60-3.20)

4.11

(3.84-4.48)

5.68†

(5.26-6.40)

142

6–11 years

4.59

(4.47-4.71)

3.04

(2.80-3.37)

4.62

(4.42-4.77)

6.56

(6.42-7.11)

339

12–19 years

6.23

(6.07-6.40)

4.10

(3.92-4.22)

6.23

(6.01-6.42)

9.84

(9.07-10.7)

814

20–39 years

7.77

(7.54-8.02)

5.01

(4.66-5.32)

7.43

(7.18-7.76)

12.8

(11.9-14.8)

386

40–59 years

8.52

(8.17-8.89)

5.63

(5.27-6.22)

8.41

(8.04-8.91)

12.0

(11.4-14.5)

301

60 years and older

10.1

(9.53-10.7)

6.34

(5.58-6.73)

10.1

(9.19-10.6)

18.7

(16.5-20.3)

323

Females

Total, 3 years and older

5.72

(5.53-5.92)

3.43

(3.30-3.56)

5.65

(5.47-5.80)

10.0

(9.26-11.2)

2420

3–5 years

4.07

(3.78-4.39)

3.06†

(2.72-3.23)

4.01

(3.69-4.31)

5.83†

(4.89-8.23)

129

6–11 years

4.31

(4.18-4.44)

3.04

(2.82-3.23)

4.28

(4.12-4.46)

5.91

(5.77-6.38)

317

12–19 years

5.24

(5.07-5.40)

3.48

(3.31-3.69)

5.19

(5.01-5.41)

8.05

(7.65-8.31)

829

20–39 years

5.75

(5.60-5.90)

3.66

(3.51-3.90)

5.79

(5.52-5.93)

8.56

(8.15-9.20)

484

40–59 years

6.86

(6.54-7.19)

4.40

(3.92-4.82)

6.68

(6.35-7.08)

11.2

(9.70-13.7)

333

60 years and older

9.16

(8.46-9.92)

5.44

(5.14-5.88)

8.84

(8.01-9.97)

17.2

(15.0-21.6)

328

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.

Table 1.4.c. Plasma homocysteine: Non-Hispanic blacks

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of plasma concentrations (in µmol/L) for non-Hispanic blacks in the U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

7.14

(6.95-7.33)

3.72

(3.58-3.84)

7.07

(6.84-7.29)

14.3

(13.3-14.9)

3777

3–5 years

4.16

(4.01-4.32)

2.82

(2.67-3.08)

4.08

(3.91-4.34)

6.18

(5.81-6.43)

246

6–11 years

4.43

(4.29-4.57)

2.99

(2.84-3.21)

4.42

(4.29-4.57)

6.43

(6.23-6.75)

621

12–19 years

5.96

(5.83-6.10)

3.73

(3.57-3.92)

5.92

(5.78-6.05)

9.66

(9.34-10.1)

1265

20–39 years

7.22

(7.03-7.42)

4.33

(4.12-4.43)

7.22

(7.00-7.46)

11.9

(11.3-12.8)

597

40–59 years

8.71

(8.33-9.09)

5.27

(4.87-5.66)

8.43

(8.08-8.83)

15.3

(13.7-18.8)

552

60 years and older

10.9

(10.5-11.3)

6.39

(6.12-6.67)

10.2

(9.86-10.8)

21.3

(18.9-25.9)

496

Males

Total, 3 years and older

7.68

(7.43-7.92)

3.83

(3.72-4.00)

7.77

(7.52-8.04)

15.2

(14.6-15.9)

1853

3–5 years

4.38

(4.17-4.60)

3.05†

(2.68-3.34)

4.27

(4.06-4.61)

6.38†

(5.79-6.57)

127

6–11 years

4.53

(4.38-4.69)

2.99

(2.81-3.39)

4.53

(4.38-4.64)

6.51

(6.23-6.80)

314

12–19 years

6.37

(6.22-6.52)

3.87

(3.69-4.08)

6.32

(6.16-6.44)

10.4

(9.70-11.0)

646

20–39 years

8.46

(8.18-8.74)

5.54

(5.34-5.91)

8.22

(7.96-8.59)

14.3

(11.9-15.5)

249

40–59 years

9.49

(9.03-9.97)

6.04

(5.32-6.45)

9.20

(8.62-9.54)

18.1

(14.7-20.2)

278

60 years and older

11.5

(11.0-12.0)

6.83

(6.13-7.33)

11.0

(10.2-11.9)

21.3

(18.4-25.9)

239

Females

Total, 3 years and older

6.71

(6.50-6.94)

3.60

(3.50-3.76)

6.59

(6.38-6.78)

12.8

(12.2-13.7)

1924

3–5 years

3.93

(3.72-4.16)

2.72†

(2.54-2.97)

3.85

(3.58-4.29)

5.85†

(5.13-6.39)

119

6–11 years

4.33

(4.18-4.47)

2.94

(2.71-3.21)

4.33

(4.18-4.47)

6.39

(5.90-6.81)

307

12–19 years

5.58

(5.41-5.75)

3.65

(3.46-3.82)

5.62

(5.45-5.77)

8.51

(7.92-9.32)

619

20–39 years

6.41

(6.18-6.64)

4.07

(3.70-4.33)

6.42

(6.18-6.75)

9.75

(9.08-10.0)

348

40–59 years

8.07

(7.67-8.50)

4.91

(4.63-5.33)

7.72

(7.38-8.48)

13.3

(11.7-19.2)

274

60 years and older

10.6

(10.1-11.1)

6.20

(5.89-6.62)

9.92

(9.55-10.5)

22.5

(17.5-27.7)

257

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.

Table 1.4.d. Plasma homocysteine: Non-Hispanic whites

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of plasma concentrations (in µmol/L) for non-Hispanic whites in the U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

7.59

(7.47-7.71)

4.07

(3.97-4.19)

7.60

(7.48-7.74)

14.0

(13.4-14.4)

6192

3–5 years

4.30

(4.14-4.45)

2.74

(2.64-3.19)

4.28

(4.19-4.49)

6.19

(5.74-6.90)

229

6–11 years

4.56

(4.44-4.69)

3.14

(2.94-3.26)

4.51

(4.40-4.68)

6.94

(6.60-7.13)

497

12–19 years

5.99

(5.86-6.12)

3.83

(3.59-4.03)

5.89

(5.76-6.07)

9.54

(9.23-10.2)

1078

20–39 years

7.36

(7.24-7.49)

4.66

(4.37-4.83)

7.33

(7.16-7.49)

12.0

(11.5-12.4)

1383

40–59 years

8.31

(8.19-8.42)

5.30

(5.18-5.44)

8.17

(8.03-8.28)

13.4

(12.5-14.1)

1286

60 years and older

10.0

(9.74-10.3)

6.22

(6.12-6.44)

9.63

(9.33-9.92)

18.2

(17.4-19.0)

1719

Males

Total, 3 years and older

8.12

(7.99-8.25)

4.25

(4.15-4.38)

8.23

(8.11-8.38)

14.3

(13.9-14.8)

3026

3–5 years

4.39

(4.18-4.61)

3.10†

(2.44-3.48)

4.28

(4.20-4.56)

6.14†

(5.65-7.22)

120

6–11 years

4.62

(4.49-4.75)

3.15

(2.94-3.31)

4.55

(4.41-4.76)

6.91

(6.47-7.23)

264

12–19 years

6.28

(6.11-6.46)

3.95

(3.64-4.25)

6.19

(6.00-6.36)

9.72

(9.38-11.4)

534

20–39 years

8.21

(8.03-8.41)

5.62

(5.37-5.81)

8.10

(7.84-8.28)

12.4

(11.7-12.9)

577

40–59 years

9.10

(8.92-9.28)

6.31

(5.99-6.56)

8.91

(8.68-9.18)

13.8

(12.7-14.4)

668

60 years and older

10.7

(10.4-11.0)

6.88

(6.53-7.25)

10.3

(10.0-10.7)

18.2

(17.3-19.0)

863

Females

Total, 3 years and older

7.11

(6.97-7.25)

3.89

(3.69-4.07)

7.01

(6.89-7.14)

13.4

(12.8-14.2)

3166

3–5 years

4.20

(3.97-4.44)

2.71†

(2.06-3.19)

4.25

(4.04-4.59)

6.17†

(5.58-6.90)

109

6–11 years

4.50

(4.33-4.68)

3.11

(2.91-3.30)

4.47

(4.19-4.73)

6.94

(6.16-7.35)

233

12–19 years

5.70

(5.52-5.88)

3.68

(3.43-3.97)

5.63

(5.40-5.84)

9.09

(8.36-10.2)

544

20–39 years

6.61

(6.45-6.78)

3.90

(3.63-4.32)

6.52

(6.37-6.72)

11.2

(9.87-12.0)

806

40–59 years

7.57

(7.40-7.75)

4.97

(4.67-5.13)

7.36

(7.18-7.57)

12.9

(11.7-14.0)

618

60 years and older

9.53

(9.19-9.89)

6.04

(5.82-6.19)

9.09

(8.78-9.31)

18.2

(16.6-19.8)

856

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.