Heart Disease And Homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid in food protein but is not used by the body and interferes with human biochemistry. Vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and folate (folic acid) are necessary for changing homocysteine to the amino acid methionine, an important amino acid for humans. A deficiency of these nutrients prevents homocysteine from being changed to methionine, causing homocysteine level to increase. A supplement of can further reduce homocysteine.

Problems Homocysteine Causes

High homocysteine speeds up oxidation and aging, damages arteries, weakens the immune system, and increase pain and inflammation. A high blood level of homocysteine promotes higher blood levels of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which are chemicals that your body uses to increase inflammation at times of injury, but chronic inflammation from excess homocysteine often causes damage to arteries, joints, and nerves.

Certainty Of Problems With High Homocysteine

Children with the genetic disorder homocystinuria have a mutation of the “MTRR” gene causing a very high homocysteine level, and some die at a very young age of advanced atherosclerosis and other conditions. A genetic error in folate metabolism (MTHFR) causes a folate deficiency which results in increased homocysteine level.