Having high homocysteine is an indicator that something in your body is wrong. High values of this amino acid in the blood require a series of care since, if we do not pay enough attention, they could have negative consequences on your body.
What is homocysteine?
We could define homocysteine as an amino acid that our body uses or metabolizes in some situations to produce proteins .
Some of the B vitamins such as folic acid or vitamins B6 and B12, along with some other compounds such as magnesium, are responsible for using this amino acid, so a good balance and a correct dose of this type of vitamins will help to regulate homocysteine levels in the blood.
Consequences of having high blood homocysteine
Homocysteine is currently being studied, since high levels of this chemical compound in the blood (hyperhomocysteine) seem to be directly related to cardiovascular problems . In fact, high levels of this amino acid have been established as a risk factor in some pathologies, including early arteriosclerotic disease.
In most cases, altered homocysteine values in an analysis indicate a pro-oxidation state of the organism promoted by an imbalance or deficiency in vitamin values. But this is not always the case, as it can also be an indicator of heart problems (or rarely, they can be associated with hereditary problems). It is also true that age seems to have an influence on these levels, since people with older ages tend to show higher levels of homocysteine in the blood. This is because, as the years go by, the absorption capacity of some vitamins is modified, so we could blame this situation for it.
Care about it
In the conclusions of some studies, it has been seen that subjects with poor lifestyle habits are the ones with the greatest increases in homocysteine levels in the blood . When we talk about bad habits, these studies refer to people who smoke or who have a high intake of alcohol in their daily lives. Therefore, lifestyle can be a determining factor to maintain values within normality.
It has been suggested that approximately 60% of hyperhomocysteinemia is due to inadequate levels of one or more of these vitamins in the blood , so watch your diet, include a sufficient variety of foods (especially those rich in B vitamins) and, above all, eliminating those toxic products from our daily consumption seems to be the best weapon to fight against the high values of this compound.
Conclusions
High levels of homocysteine in the blood can be a risk factor for your health. Some precautions such as not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, including enough B vitamins and physical activity can be useful to maintain normal blood values of this amino acid.
References
- Varela-Moreiras, G., Escudero, JMª, & Alonso-Aperte, E .. (2007). Homocysteine, related vitamins and lifestyles in the elderly: SÉNECA study. Hospital Nutrition , 22 (3), 363-370. Retrieved on January 1, 2021, from http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0212-16112007000400011&lng=es&tlng=es.
- Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PW, Rush D, Rosenberg IH. Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinaemia in an elderly population. JAMA, 270 (1993), pp. 2693-8
