High homocysteine

Inadequate metabolism of Hcy is common, critical to patients’ health, and easily corrected.

The average American's homocysteine level is 10, more than 50% above the low-risk threshold.

Healthy homocysteine levels can be maintained with a combination of Folate, B12 and B6.

The following nutrients are necessary for Hcy metabolism: B-12, folic acid, B-6, (in their activated, coenzyme forms) and a methyl donor such
as betaine or choline. Most sources that discuss Hcy lump all of these nutrients together. Many products containing all of these nutrients are available today.

We prefer the body-ready (conenzymated) form of these vitamins to help overcome obstacles to metabolizing homocysteine found below.

Homocysteine concentrations now widely accepted as normal are associated with increased likelihood of coronary artery disease, and this risk increases with rising homocysteine concentrations.

Most doctors have no clue about their patients’ Hcy levels, much less how to guide the patient nutritionally to normalize this metabolism.

Hence, most susceptible patients are left unprotected from the degenerative effects of elevated Hcy which include heart attack, stroke, cancer, neurological
disorders, and other diseases.

Each 3-unit increase in homocysteine equal a 35% increase in heart attack risk.3

Plasma total homocysteine is a strong predictor of both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality in a general population of 65-72 year olds.

 Ask your doctor to run this on your next blood test and if over 7 you may support with one of the above and restake the test after a month to see if the 

level has decreased, continue this until you remain at 6 or less and increase the dose or change the formula as needed. Sometimes Zinc is needed.

The most popular Hcy re-methylation pathway is  via the methionine synthase (METSyn) enzyme. This B-12 dependent enzyme causes 5-MTHF                                      (i.e., activated folic acid) to pass a methyl group to Hcy converting it into METHIONINE.

 
Methyl donors like betaine and choline are essential for numerous metabolic pathways, including that of homocysteine (Hcy) conversion. This is where extra Zinc is needed.1

If the person has yeast or mold problems, anemia, inflammation, heavy metal issues, joint symptoms, liver detoxification problems, or any indication of a
problem with homocysteine, you will be wanting tone tested for the need of the essential mineral Molybdenum.2

HOMOCYSTEINE AND THE BRAIN

We do not want to miss the opportunity for finding and correcting elevated Hcy.

It is so important, so prevalent, and so under diagnosed,

Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders are associated with 

elevated Hcy. Excess Hcy converts to homocysteic acid with excitatory neurotransmitter effects similar
to aspartate (ASP) and glutamate (GLU). ASP, GLU, and homocysteic acid are excitatory to the N-methyl
D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor.

A vicious cycle is generated that ends not only in that cell’s death, but also in a spreading cell death of surrounding cells.

The process: RECEPTOR DEPOLARIZATION-> CALCIUM INFLUX -> FREE RADICALS/NITRIC OXIDE  ->  INTRACELLULAR DAMAGE  ->  

CELL DEATH BY APOPTOSIS  ->  GLU RELEASE OUTSIDE CELL  -> EXCITATION OF ADJACENT CELLS  ->  CALCIUM INFLUX  -> … and so on…3

1. http://www.theuplink.com Issue No. 42

2.  http://www.theuplink.com   Issue No 43

3. http://www.theuplink.com   Issue No 38.