Your heart and mind matter: Homocysteine explained
Have you heard of homocysteine? Many people are unaware that this amino acid is a marker of increased risk for heart attack, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline in humans and dogs.
In this article, you’ll learn about homocysteine, what it means to have high levels, and how to get it tested.
The good news is that maintaining healthy homocysteine levels is easy and inexpensive!
What is homocysteine?
Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from metabolizing the essential amino acid methionine. Homocysteine synthesis is a normal part of your body’s methionine metabolism; however, increased levels of homocysteine are closely connected to various diseases.
Elevated homocysteine levels are like a smoke detector going off inside the body; they are a red flag warning you of an increased risk for serious problems.
What diseases are connected to high levels of homocysteine?
In recent years, research has shown a link between high levels of homocysteine and Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stroke, and cognitive decline in elderly people and dogs – in dogs; it is commonly known by the term ‘dog dementia.’
What causes high homocysteine levels?
A variety of factors, including genetics, can cause high homocysteine levels, but one of the main causes that stands out is a lack of vitamins B6 and B12. Elevated homocysteine and deficiency of vitamins B6 and B12 are associated with mental disorders and dementia.
Other reasons may be kidney disease, hypothyroidismcertain medications*, and lifestyle factors such as poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity in dogs and humans.
*Many medications have been linked to high homocysteine levels; these include methotrexate, antiepileptic drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, drugs for Parkinson’s disease, and metformin.
What are normal homocysteine levels in humans and dogs?
Homocysteine levels can vary, and the ranges for what is considered “normal” can vary slightly based on the laboratory that processes the test. However, here are general guidelines.
To peoplenormal homocysteine levels are generally considered to be in between 5 and 12 micromoles per liter (µmol/L).
To dogsnormal total plasma homocysteine concentrations range from approx 1.6 to 9.9 µmol/L. The wide range reflects variations in individual dogs and different breeds.
Do certain foods contain homocysteine?
Homocysteine is not obtained directly from the diet but is a by-product of methionine metabolism.
How and at what age can homocysteine be measured?
Homocysteine is measured by a simple blood test, where a blood sample is drawn and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Because high levels of homocysteine can increase the risk of heart disease and mental disorders, it’s generally recommended that individuals start testing their levels around age 50. Similarly, for dogs, it may be a good idea to consider testing at 10 years of age.
Besides determining homocysteine levels, the test also helps assess the need for supplementation of vitamins B6 and B12 and other vitamins.
Many labs can perform homocysteine tests in people. For example, LabCorp provides a homocysteine plasma test, and Quest Diagnostics offers a Cardio IQ® homocysteine test. Mayo Clinic Laboratories also provides a similar service.
However, there are no known labs that currently offer homocysteine testing for dogs, and such tests need to be done in a human lab.
The good news is that there is a simple and more cost-effective way of reducing homocysteine levels and preventing its consequences, and that is vitamin supplementation.
How can we ensure that homocysteine does not rise to harmful levels?
Here are some practical steps to help prevent cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular disease.
As I mentioned, homocysteine is metabolized back to methionine. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, converts it back to methionine, and vitamin B6 converts it to cysteine.
Vitamin B12 is important for nerve function, red blood cell formation, and DNA synthesis.
Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is equally important because it participates in more than 100 enzyme reactions, mainly related to protein metabolism. It is important for brain development and function and helps the body make the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which influence mood, and melatonin, which helps regulate the body clock.
Can vitamin B6 and B12 only come from food?
Ideally, a diet rich in B vitamins can help maintain healthy homocysteine levels. However, due to intensive agriculture and the resulting depletion of land, research has shown that food alone cannot adequately provide the necessary nutrients and supplements needed.
When choosing supplements, it is important to know that not all supplements are created equal. Most vitamins are made from coal and crude oil, and the body does not benefit from them in the same way that it does when given food-based fermented vitamins.
Fermented vitamins are different because they are bound in a bioprotein matrix, and are recognized by the body as food. Some benefits of fermenting vitamins include increased potency, bio-availability, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Fermented supplements are also gentle on the stomach, unlike conventional vitamins, which often cause digestive upset.
We are the only company that makes fermented certified organic multivitamin and organ support for dogs.
Only a few fermented vitamin supplements are available for humans, most of which have now been taken over by multinational companies.
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