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Define Homocysteine Formula

Homocysteine is a molecular compound with the formula C4H9NO2S. It's among a class of molecules called amino acids that play vital roles in biology. Some studies have found that elevated blood levels of homocysteine seem to be linked to heart disease, although the evidence suggests reducing homocysteine levels won't cause an improvement in cardiovascular health for most people.

  1. Homocysteine

    • Cells in the human body use 20 amino acids to make proteins, although homocysteine isn't among them. It serves primarily as an intermediate during the synthesis of an amino acid called cysteine. People suffering from folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency, however, may have elevated blood levels of homocysteine. Patients who have inherited a genetic disorder called homocystinuria exhibit the same problem.

    Homocysteine & Heart Disease

    • Past research has found that high homocysteine levels in the blood seem to be linked to a higher risk of heart disease. It's not entirely clear, however, whether an excess of homocysteine causes increased risk or is a result of other conditions that increase risk. Treating patients who have homocystinuria or vitamin B deficiency with B vitamins does reduce homocysteine levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2008, however, for patients who already consume sufficient vitamin B and folic acid as part of their regular diet, there doesn't seem to be any benefit in reducing homocysteine levels with additional vitamin B treatment.

    Homocysteine Formulas

    • Some supplement makers market homocysteine formulas, tablets that contain vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6. The theory is that reducing homocysteine by increasing your intake of vitamin B and folic acid will reduce the risk of heart disease or improve overall health.

    Effects

    • In people with homocystinuria or vitamin B deficiency, the evidence suggests that homocysteine formulas may well help bring about an improvement. In healthy people who already consume sufficient vitamin B as part of their regular diet; however, no evidence exists at present to suggest that reducing homocysteine levels by increasing your intake of vitamin B will reduce your risk of heart disease.

    Considerations

    • Many foods, especially breakfast cereals, are folate-fortified and already contain plenty of vitamin B. Supplementing your diet with a homocysteine formula isn't typically necessary unless you suffer from a deficiency or another disorder that might warrant it. None of the above is intended as medical advice, however; if you have any questions about your health or about the level of vitamin B intake that's right for you, the best person to consult is your doctor.

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