Homocysteine

Overview

Homocysteine ​​is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. Cysteine ​​is formed from homocysteine, one of the 20 amino acids that are natural building blocks in the body. When homocysteine ​​levels are too high, it affects the body's supporting tissues, e.g. fibrillin, and receptors in the nerve cells negatively, and contributes to the formation of free radicals.

Testing Levels:

• High (15 umol/L) - Elevated homocysteine ​​levels can also be seen in old age, impaired kidney function , hypothyroidism , SLE, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and malignancy. Significantly elevated homocysteine
  ​​(P-Homocysteine>40 mmol/L) can also be due to congenital homozygous defect in methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR), possibly in combination with folate deficiency.
  
  
• Mid - When your homocysteine level falls within the normal range, it generally indicates that your body is processing amino acids and nutrients effectively. A normal homocysteine value suggests that there is no significant buildup of homocysteine in your blood, which is important because elevated levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia) can potentially increase your risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke.
  
  Having a normal homocysteine value doesn't necessarily mean there are no health concerns at all, as other factors can contribute to overall health. However, within the context of homocysteine, a normal value is typically seen as a positive indicator of cardiovascular health and proper metabolism of amino acids.
  
  
• Low ( umol/L) - Lack of vitamin B12 to the tissues leads to an increase in homocysteine ​​and MMA. Limit values ​​of vitamin B12 without elevated homocysteine ​​and MMA should not be treated with vitamin B12. Folate deficiency also leads to an increase in homocysteine, but not in MMA. A number of lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol, tobacco, etc. can lead to increased homocysteine.

Why We Test Homocysteine

A homocysteine ​​test can be ordered for several reasons. To determine if a person has a vitamin B or folate deficiency . The homocysteine ​​concentration may increase before the B - and folate values ​​become abnormal. Sometimes homocysteine ​​testing is recommended in malnourished individuals, the elderly, who often absorb less B vitamins from the diet. As part of a screening of people at high risk of heart attack or stroke. It may be useful for patients with a family history of coronary artery disease but no other known risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, or obesity.

What Affects It

Homocysteine levels in the body can be influenced by several factors. These include nutritional deficiencies in vitamins like folate, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B6, genetic variations affecting metabolism efficiency, aging, impaired kidney function, lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol consumption, certain medical conditions like diabetes and inflammatory diseases, and medications such as anti-seizure drugs and methotrexate. Monitoring homocysteine levels is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk and overall health, particularly in individuals with relevant risk factors or health conditions.

How to Improve

Common Name: Homocysteine