Keep Your Homocysteine in Check

Learn how to keep your homocysteine levels in check to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health issues through nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Homocysteine is a substance made when the body breaks down the amino acid methionine, which comes from protein-containing foods.

When homocysteine levels become too high, they may irritate and damage blood vessels by increasing inflammation, oxidative stress, and impairing normal blood vessel relaxation.

Because of this, elevated homocysteine has been linked with cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline, kidney disease, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, and other health concerns.

Homocysteine can rise for several reasons, including:

• Low folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6 levels
• Genetic differences in homocysteine metabolism
• High methionine intake
• Certain medications
• Kidney disease
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-seizure medications, and Parkinson’s medications may also raise homocysteine in certain people.

Nutritional support can often help lower homocysteine

Folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 help the body process homocysteine, while choline and betaine help recycle it back into methionine.

Antioxidant support, such as N-acetyl cysteine, may also help protect against oxidative stress associated with high homocysteine levels, though lowering homocysteine does not always guarantee reduced disease risk.

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