Homocysteine is dangerous for the heart, circulatory system and brain
The amino acid Homocysteine is a natural waste product of cell formation. A healthy immune system keeps the toxic concentration in check. When the mechanism stops working, it becomes dangerous.
Homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that is not a problem in small amounts in the blood. Like other byproducts, homocysteine is a natural component of cell formation. However, it becomes dangerous when the concentration is increased. Then the toxic waste product attacks the cells and, in the worst case, damages the blood vessel walls. This can have dangerous consequences for the cardiovascular system and the brain.
Homocytein is a risk indicator for an unhealthy lifestyle
Knowledge of the danger posed by elevated homocysteine levels is not that old. Although there is evidence from the 60s that homocysteine is the cause of the hereditary disease homocystinuria, which is associated with mental impairment and bone loss, its cell-damaging effect was not identified until the 90s. The risk for this large group of patients is uneven. Those with a weak immune system in particular, such as the elderly, men, pregnant women and people with proven vitamin deficiencies, kidney and liver disease, but also people with severe gastrointestinal disease and psoriasis, as well as those who suffer from vitamin deficiencies due to an unhealthy lifestyle, are affected by elevated homocysteine levels. They often suffer from flabby and porous blood vessel walls and a damaged endothelial layer. Dangerous arteriosclerosis and the resulting secondary diseases, including organ damage, and the whole range of cardiovascular diseases are the result. The brain can also be seriously damaged in the long term by too much homocysteine. Cells are irreversibly destroyed, including the cells that supply the brain tissue. In the worst case, senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type can be the result.
With vitamins B 6 and B 12 as well as Folic acid (BXNUMX) Keeping homocysteine in check
The measures to significantly reduce homocysteine levels are simple. The biggest enemy of the harmful amino acid is vitamin B 6 and B 12 as well as folic acid. Supplemented by a healthy and vitamin-rich diet, Nutrition and avoiding so-called vitamin killers such as alcohol and smoking, you can effectively reduce the homocysteine level. It is important to determine the homocysteine level. With a few simple rules, a meaningful result can be achieved. Avoid protein-rich foods such as fish, meat and cheese the day before the blood test and avoid food altogether up to nine hours before. We will be happy to inform you about this in our consultation hours. This way you can expect a useful and valid result from the homocysteine measurement. It is also important to consider which medications you are taking - some pharmaceutical ingredients have a negative effect on the Homocysteine-value. We will work with you to develop an optimally coordinated overall medication in conjunction with a healthy, vitamin-rich diet, if necessary by supplementing with vitamin preparations. This is a decisive and important step in preventing an increased Homocysteinemirror.
Cardiovascular check advisable in case of elevated homocysteine levels
New findings suggest that homocysteine is primarily a risk indicator for an unhealthy lifestyle. An increased risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases such as Heart attack and Stroke is the result. Accordingly, the European guideline for the prevention of cardiovascular disease assigns only a minor importance to the determination of homocysteine levels, for example, compared to the determination of cholesterol levels. Since it is not possible to estimate in individual cases whether the homocysteine level has really led to premature atherosclerosis, we recommend a cardiovascular check to have carried out.