World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Helga Refsum

Helga Refsum

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Best Female Scientists
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Best Female Scientists

D-Index
110
Citations
59232
World Ranking
875
National Ranking
4

Medicine

D-Index
110
Citations
60275
World Ranking
5449
National Ranking
18

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Best Female Scientists Award

Overview

Helga Refsum is affiliated with the University of Oslo in Norway and has contributed extensively to research in medicine and biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Their work spans multiple subfields, including rheumatology, molecular biology, biochemistry, pediatrics, perinatology and child health, and physiology.

The primary focus of Refsum's research includes folate and B vitamins, sulfur compounds in biology, birth, development, and health, epigenetics and DNA methylation, nutritional studies and diet, fluoride effects and removal, as well as metabolism and genetic disorders.

Recent publications by Helga Refsum encompass a range of topics related to nutrition, metabolism, and disease biomarkers. Selected papers include:

  • Homocysteine - from disease biomarker to disease prevention, 2021, Journal of Internal Medicine
  • The importance of vitamin B12 for individuals choosing plant-based diets, 2022, European Journal of Nutrition
  • Effects of dietary methionine and cysteine restriction on plasma biomarkers, serum fibroblast growth factor 21, and adipose tissue gene expression in women with overweight or obesity: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot study, 2020, Journal of Translational Medicine
  • Branched-chain amino acid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and liver fat response to exercise training in sedentary dysglycaemic and normoglycaemic men, 2020, Diabetologia
  • Paraoxonase 1, B Vitamins Supplementation, and Mild Cognitive Impairment, 2021, Journal of Alzheimer s Disease

Helga Refsum regularly collaborates with other researchers, with frequent co-authors including Thomas Olsén, Kathrine J. Vinknes, Amany Elshorbagy, Nasser E. Bastani, and A. David Smith. These collaborations reflect an interdisciplinary approach to studies involving nutrition, biochemistry, and medical sciences.

Publications by Refsum have appeared in several academic venues, with recurring contributions to:

  • Amino Acids
  • European Journal of Nutrition
  • Journal of Translational Medicine
  • Journal of Alzheimer s Disease
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

The breadth of research topics covered by Helga Refsum highlights their engagement with critical aspects of metabolic health and nutrition. Their work is particularly focused on understanding vitamin roles, amino acid metabolism, and molecular mechanisms related to disease prevention and management.

Best Publications

  • Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease: The European Concerted Action Project.

    Graham Im;Daly Le;Refsum Hm;Robinson K

  • Homocysteine and risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke: A meta-analysis

    R. Clarke;R. Collins;S. Lewington;A. Donald

  • Homocysteine and Cardiovascular Disease

    H. Refsum;P. M. Ueland;O. Nygård;S. E. Vollset

  • Plasma Homocysteine Levels and Mortality in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

    Ottar Nygård;Jan Erik Nordrehaug;Helga Refsum;Per Magne Ueland

  • Folate, Vitamin B12, and Serum Total Homocysteine Levels in Confirmed Alzheimer Disease

    R Clarke;A D Smith;K A Jobst;H Refsum

  • Total homocysteine in plasma or serum: methods and clinical applications.

    P M Ueland;H Refsum;S P Stabler;M R Malinow

  • Total plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular risk profile. The Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

    O Nygård;S E Vollset;H Refsum;I Stensvold

  • Facts and Recommendations about Total Homocysteine Determinations: An Expert Opinion

    Helga Refsum;A. David Smith;Per M. Ueland;Ebba Nexo

  • Prospective study of serum total homocysteine concentration and risk of stroke in middle-aged British men

    I.J. Perry;R.W. Morris;S.B. Ebrahim;A.G. Shaper

  • Vitamin B12 and folate concentrations during pregnancy and insulin resistance in the offspring: the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study.

    C. S. Yajnik;S. S. Deshpande;A. A. Jackson;H. Refsum;H. Refsum

  • Serum Total Homocysteine and Coronary Heart Disease

    Egil Arnesen;Helga Refsum;Kaare H Bønaa;Per Magne Ueland

  • Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

    A. David Smith;Stephen M. Smith;Celeste A. de Jager;Philippa Whitbread

  • Low Circulating Folate and Vitamin B6 Concentrations Risk Factors for Stroke, Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Coronary Artery Disease

    Killian Robinson;Kristopher Arheart;Helga Refsum;Lars Brattström

  • Is folic acid good for everyone

    A David Smith;Young-In Kim;Helga Refsum

  • Plasma total cysteine, pregnancy complications, and adverse pregnancy outcomes: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study

    Lina El-Khairy;Stein E Vollset;Helga Refsum;Per M Ueland

  • The controversy over homocysteine and cardiovascular risk

    Per M Ueland;Helga Refsum;Shirley Aa Beresford;Stein Emil Vollset

  • The Hordaland Homocysteine Study: A Community-Based Study of Homocysteine, Its Determinants, and Associations with Disease

    Helga Refsum;Helga Refsum;Helga Refsum;Eha Nurk;A. David Smith;Per M. Ueland

  • Biological and clinical implications of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism.

    Per Magne Ueland;Steinar Hustad;Jørn Schneede;Helga Refsum

  • Major lifestyle determinants of plasma total homocysteine distribution: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

    Ottar Nygård;Helga Refsum;Per M Ueland;Stein E Vollset

  • Homocysteine and other thiols in plasma and urine: automated determination and sample stability.

    T Fiskerstrand;H Refsum;G Kvalheim;P M Ueland

Frequent Co-Authors

Per Magne Ueland
Per Magne Ueland University of Bergen
Stein Emil Vollset
Stein Emil Vollset University of Washington
Grethe S. Tell
Grethe S. Tell University of Bergen
Christian A. Drevon
Christian A. Drevon University of Oslo
Chittaranjan S. Yajnik
Chittaranjan S. Yajnik King Edward Memorial Hospital
Aage Tverdal
Aage Tverdal Norwegian Institute of Public Health
John C. Chambers
John C. Chambers Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Jaspal S. Kooner
Jaspal S. Kooner Imperial College London
Coen D.A. Stehouwer
Coen D.A. Stehouwer Maastricht University
Ebba Nexo
Ebba Nexo Aarhus University Hospital

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