Homocysteine

Overview:

Homocysteine is an amino acid produced as the body processes methionine from dietary protein. Converting it onward requires vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate, so when any of those are low, homocysteine accumulates. That makes it a useful functional marker of B vitamin status, sometimes rising before the vitamins themselves look low. Raised homocysteine has also been associated with cardiovascular disease, though lowering it with supplements has not been shown to reduce cardiovascular events, so its role is more as an indicator than a treatment target. Kidney function and some genetic variants also affect levels.

Categories:

Heart, Vitamins & Nutrients

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker