Homocysteine (part of our Initial Anti-Aging Screening Test Panel) is a major risk factor heart disease and stroke. It’s also a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, osteoporosis, neuropsychiatric disorders, etc. Homocysteine is toxic to the blood vessel walls in the heart and the brain, causing endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress/free radicals, neuronal DNA damage, cerebral microangiopathy, apoptosis of neural cells and mitochondrial membrane damage.
Factors that may cause homocysteine level to increase: toxins, medications, age, smoking, hypothyroidism, renal failure or hereditary. The ideal level of homocysteine is 7-10 umol/L (6-8 is the optimal level).
If too high:
- Folic acid 800 mcg
- Vit B6 40 mg
- Vit B12 200 mcg daily
- Betaine HCL (Trimethylglycine) 500 – 1000 mg
- MTHF (active form of folic acid)
- Garlic 1000 mg
- SAMe 400 mg
- Beets, broccoli
Too low: too low a level is usually associated with over methylation.