What is homocysteine?
Homocysteine is an amino acid that the body produces. Amino acids are chemicals in your blood that help create proteins.
Vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and vitamin B9 (folate) break down homocysteine to generate other chemicals your body needs.
Most people have low homocysteine levels. This is because the body breaks down the amino acid quickly into other compounds.
High, or elevated, homocysteine levels are known as hyperhomocysteinemia. This could indicate a person has a vitamin deficiency, as the body needs certain nutrients to break it down.
Less commonly, hyperhomocysteinemia can occur due to homocystinuria, which is a genetic disease. Homocystinuria means that the body is not able to process the building blocks of amino acids properly.
What does homocysteine do?
When it interacts with the B vitamins, homocysteine converts to two substances:
- Methionine, an essential amino acid and antioxidant that synthesizes (creates) proteins.
- Cysteine, a nonessential amino acid synthesized from methionine that reduces inflammation, increases communication between immune cells and increases liver health.
Typical homocysteine levels are usually from 5–15 micromoles/liter (μmol/l) . If the levels are above this, a person has hyperhomocysteinemia.
High homocysteine levels fall into three categories:
moderate, if from 16–30 μmol/l
intermediate, if from 31–100 μmol/l
severe, if over 100 μmol/l
According to a review of previous research in the journal Nutrition and MetabolismTrusted Source, the presence of high homocysteine can indicate a higher risk for developing a range of conditions but may not directly cause them.
If you have more than 50 μmol/l, the excess homocysteine may damage the lining of your arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body). High levels of homocysteine can also lead to blood clots or blood vessel blockages. Artery damage or blood clots significantly raise your risk of heart attack.
A homocysteine test may be used to:
- Find out if you’re lacking vitamin B6, B12, or folic acid. These vitamins break down homocysteine. So if you don’t have enough of them, your homocysteine levels will increase. A homocysteine test may be done with a blood test to measure your vitamin B levels.
- Help diagnose homocystinuria. Homocystinuria is a rare, genetic disease that prevents your body from using a certain amino acid to make important proteins. Symptoms usually show up in the first year of life, but they may not appear until childhood or later. Common symptoms include problems with eyesight, blood clots, and weak bones. In the U.S., most newborns have a routine screening test to check for homocystinuria.
- Better understand your risk for heart attack or stroke if you already have an increased risk. Your health care provider may order a homocysteine test if you have been diagnosed with heart or blood vessel disease or if you have conditions that increase your risk for heart and blood vessel disease, such as:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
What are the risks of high homocysteine levels?
Without treatment, elevated homocysteine levels can lead to severe health complications. Too much homocysteine increases your risk for:
- Blood clots
- Dementia
- Heart attack
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
How can I Maintain my homocysteine levels healthy?
If you have high homocysteine levels, your healthcare provider may recommend taking supplements of:
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid (the human-made form of folate)
Increasing your vitamin intake alone does not reduce your risk of heart disease. You can lower your risk of heart disease by:
- Avoiding or quitting smoking
- Consuming less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily
- Exercising at least three to five times weekly
- Managing your blood pressure
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