Homocysteine and Vascular Disease
By Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Homocysteine is an amino acid (a building block of protein) that is produced in the human body. Homocysteine plays many important functions when levels are normal, but may irritate blood vessels, leading to blockages in the arteries (called atherosclerosis), when levels are elevated.
High homocysteine levels in the blood can cause cholesterol to change to something called oxidized low-density lipoprotein, which is damaging to the arteries. In addition, high homocysteine levels can make blood clot more easily than it should, increasing the risk of blood vessel blockages. A blockage might cause you to have a stroke or heart attack. Up to 20% of people with heart disease have high homocysteine levels.
Homocysteine is normally changed into other amino acids for use by the body. If your homocysteine level is too high, you may not have enough B vitamins to help this process. Or you may not have enough of the chemicals (enzymes) to process homocysteine. Most people with a high homocysteine level don't get enough folate (also called folic acid), vitamin B6 or vitamin B12 in their diet. Replacing these vitamins helps return the homocysteine level to normal. Other possible causes of a high homocysteine level include low levels of thyroid hormone, kidney disease, psoriasis, some medicines or inherited deficiencies in the enzymes used to process homocysteine in the body.
Homocysteine is measured using a simple blood test. It can be measured at any time of the day. It is not necessary to prepare in any special way for the blood test (such as fasting). Most hospital labs can measure homocysteine, or a blood sample can be sent out to a special lab. A healthy homocysteine level is less than 12 µmol per L. A level greater than 12 µmol per L is considered high. If your homocysteine level is 12 to 15 µmol per L and you have blockages in any blood vessel, you need to lower your homocysteine to less than 12 µmol per L. If you have no other major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and you do not have atherosclerosis, it may be okay for you to have a modestly high level of homocysteine (12 to 15 µmol per L).
While no studies have proved that lowering homocysteine levels ultimately helps reduce strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular events, it is a good idea to lower a high homocysteine level because it has been found to be a risk factor for heart disease.
Eating more fruits and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables) can help lower your homocysteine level by increasing how much folate you get in your diet. Good sources of folate include many breakfast cereals, lentils, chickpeas, asparagus, spinach and most beans. If adjusting your diet is not enough to lower your homocysteine, you will also need to take specific B vitamins. You may need to take a fairly large amount of folate (about 1 milligram per day). Additional vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 also help the body process homocysteine. Vitamin B supplements generally have no side effects.
The usual recommended vitamin and folate doses for lowering homocysteine levels are as follows:
If taking these vitamins doesn't lower your homocysteine level, your doctor may have you try a higher dose. Or you may need to have some tests to see if you have a health condition that causes high homocysteine levels.
It is important to get your homocysteine level rechecked after you have been taking the multivitamin and folate for 8 weeks. If your homocysteine level remains high, your doctor may change your treatment. You may need to take even more folate. If you have had a high homocysteine level, you will probably need to have your level checked regularly to ensure levels remain normal.
Dr. Larrabee is Associate Director of Family and Community Medicine at the Walter L. Aument Family Health Center, 317 S. Chestnut St., Quarryville.