Homocycteine Horror!

Heartening supplements to the rescue.

This statement appeared in the cover story of the 11 Aug 1997 issue of “Newsweek”: “An  avalanche of new studies suggests that an amino acid called homocysteine plays a critical role in destroying our arteries–perhaps as large a role as smoking or cholesterol.

While it was not exactly news to the medical community, it did increase public awareness of the existence of blood plasma homocysteine and the havoc it can create when it comes to heart disease.

Homocysteine is a by-product of protein metabolism in our body–any excess of an amino acid called methionine is turned into homocysteine. The body requires a certain level of homocysteine as it is utilised to build and maintain tissues. But when homocysteine levels are very high, then preliminary harm can be done to a person’s arteries. In effect, it is causative to the potentially deadly build-up of atherosclerotic plaque, which translates into very bad news for your heart as it makes this essential organ highly vulnerable to low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Heart supplements

Clinical studies have revealed that high or built-up levels of homocysteine occur because of a deficiency in our body of vitamins B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalamin), and folic acid. This trio is known to reduce homocysteine levels to an acceptable degree needed by the body. They also have the following added benefits:

•  Vitamin B6 Essential in the amino acid assimilation process, aids in metabolism and formation of antibodies, maintains sodium and phosphorous balance in the body, and promotes healthy skin and hair.

•  Vitamin B12 Promotes blood cell formation, aids metabolism, maintains a healthy nervous system, essential for calcium absorption, and promotes growth while increasing energy.

•  Folic acid Necessary for a person’s genetic make-up (i.e. DNA synthesis), aids in amino acid metabolism, and is essential not only for the formation of healthy body cells but also for the formation of plasma cells.

While most vitamin B complexes are naturally found in foods, some of them get lost when cooked. Processed food also tends to destroy most types of vitamin B and an excess of one type of vitamin B can also work to deplete another type of vitamin B. Furthermore, one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world is folic acid deficiency, which is why most pregnant women are usually placed on folic acid supplementation.

As the body cannot make its own vitamins–with the exception of a few types–it is necessary to supplement our body with all that it needs to maintain a healthy balance. With correct supplementation of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid, a decrease in harmful homocysteine levels can be achieved and maintained. This in turn helps decrease–and in some cases prevent atherosclerotic build-up in the arteries, fatal coronary and congestive heart disease, and myocardial infarction