Combat High Levels of Homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid used normally by the body in cellular metabolism and the manufacture of proteins.

You’ve probably heard a lot about homocysteine lately. Evidence suggests that high levels may promote fatty deposits in blood vessels by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots.

As a result, scientists are concerned that when it's elevated it may put you at increased risk of heart or brain problems.

And to raise concerns even further, a study by Boston University, reported by The National Institutes of Health and The New England Journal of Medicine, February 14, 2002, showed that people with elevated levels are at nearly DOUBLE the risk of age-related mental decline.

High levels in your bloodstream can be serious. Too much of it in your blood, and your risk for a heart or brain event skyrockets!

A lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid (folate) can cause extra problems for the heart because it raises the level in the body of a homocysteine. This adds to the buildup of fatty deposits in blood vessels, which in turn can lead to heart attacks and strokes.



Lifestyle factors which may increase levels include:

• Poor diet, high alcohol intake and coffee consumption reduce the absorption of vitamins

• Smoking

• Lack of physical exercise and excessive stress

• Obesity

• Drugs and certain diseases also influence homocysteine metabolism.

Reduced appetite may lead to inadequate consumption of vitamins and when combined with a slower metabolism and poor nutritional uptake, this could lead to much higher levels.

As the population continues to grow, lifestyles become more sedentary and diets less rich in key vitamins, the effect will only strengthen.

Heart Attacks

Heart attacks occur when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is reduced or stopped due to a blockage in one or more of the heart’s arteries. Usually this is due to atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits inside artery walls, which plays a crucial role.

Homocysteine has the ability to change cholesterol into a far more sinister version which attacks artery walls. As the arteries become damaged other cells stick until they become clogged with fatty deposits.

If the fatty deposits then rupture, a blood clot may form, blocking the artery and starving the heart muscle cells of oxygen. High levels also help the blood to clot, further worsening the effect of the attack.

However, it’s not all bad news. A drop in the level can lessen the likelihood of heart attacks.

Strokes

Stroke is the third biggest killer worldwide. Of the globally estimated 32 million strokes and heart attacks that occur each year, 40% are fatal. However on the upside, by knowing and reducing a high level of homocysteine, the risk of stroke can be reduced by up to 82%.

Homocysteine is believed to play a significant role in the development of strokes. Strokes occur when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes clogged or ruptures. The blockage may be caused by blood clots or other particles, such as in atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits build up inside artery walls.

Homocysteine leads the attack on artery walls by converting cholesterol into oxidised LDL cholesterol, a far more dangerous form. As the arteries become damaged, other cells begin to stick, resulting in blood vessel narrowing (atherosclerosis). In addition it helps the blood to clot, increasing the likelihood of the vessel becoming fully blocked or rupturing, depriving nerve cells in the affected part of the brain of oxygen and resulting in a stroke.

A drop in the level will lessen the likelihood of stroke.

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