About Homocysteine

Homocysteine plays an important role in the body, but if it exists in high levels in the blood, it can cause tissue damage and disease. Researchers have shown that high homocysteine levels are an indicator of increased risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline and kidney disease.

Definition

• Homocysteine is an amino acid that is required for some essential chemical reactions in the body. These reactions play a role in cellular metabolism and help regulate other amino acids used to build proteins. Homocysteine needs folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 to be metabolized so that it can be used in the chemical reactions. If you do not have enough of these vitamins, the amount of homocysteine in the blood goes up. As blood levels increase, so do your chances of disease.

Significance

• When homocysteine circulates in the blood, it affects the blood vessels and functioning at the cellular level. It affects the growth of smooth muscle cells that line the walls of the blood vessels, causing them to narrow. A study published by researchers at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in April 2008 stated that homocysteine increases oxidative stress in the mitochondria of the cells. This means that more damage will be inflicted to the cells, resulting in dysfunction and their early death.

Heart Studies

• Many research studies have found an association between high levels of homocysteine in the blood and an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Just two examples include research from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and the Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Center in Canada. Mayo Clinic researchers found that homocysteine was associated with the amount of calcifications in the coronary arteries. The researchers in Canada reported that homocysteine in the blood caused blood coagulation, which in turn increased the risk of clots.

Kidney Studies

• High levels of homocysteine have also been associated with kidney disease. Research published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Inflammation reported that homocysteine triggers an inflammatory response in the glomerular cells of the kidneys. The glomerular cells are part of the basic filtration unit in the kidneys, so this inflammation leads to permanent kidney damage. The October 2009 issue of Nephron Clinical Practice includes a study that shows homocysteine levels are directly correlated to the risk of death following a kidney transplant.

Brain Studies

• Researchers state that homocysteine is a known risk factor for stroke and neurological abnormalities. According to a study in the May 2009 issue of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the cognitive ability of patients with Alzheimer's disease declined in proportion to their blood levels of homocysteine. In other words, the higher the homocysteine, the more rapidly cognition declined.

Prevention

• The key to reducing levels of homocysteine is to be sure you have adequate amounts of vitamins B12, B6 and folate by eating a well-balanced diet. Foods with the highest source of folate are liver, lentils, pinto beans, asparagus, spinach, beans and collard greens. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, beets and orange juice are also good places to find folate. Vitamin B12 is found in fortified foods such as breakfast cereals; otherwise, the only sources are dairy products, meats and eggs. The best sources for vitamin B6 are fortified cereals, potatoes, bananas, garbanzo beans, chicken, oatmeal and pork. Other foods that provide B6 are sunflower seeds, tomato juice, avocados, salmon and tuna.