What Causes High Homocysteine Levels?
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- Do you have ongoing elevations in your homocysteine levels? Maybe you're wondering what the heck could be causing this high homocysteine level. We are going to look at all the causes of high homocysteine, certain B vitamins and medical conditions that can lead to high homocysteine levels.
In this video, we're going to look at what causes high homocysteine levels. First off, homocysteine is a molecule in your blood that we use to measure the relative abundance or deficiency of things like B12, folate, and B6. It can also be more of a reflection of your protein intake and body's overall inflammation state.
So typically, if you are high in your homocysteine level, you're either consuming excessive protein or you're deficient in one of those three vitamins. And when you have a high homocysteine for a period of time, there's definitely consequences to that, meaning problems that happen in the body.
But before we look at some of the consequences of elevated homocysteine on your body, let's look a little closer at what the causes of high homocysteine levels are. So we already mentioned B12 deficiency and folate deficiency. Both B12 and folate are needed to break down the homocysteine and turn that homocysteine into methionine. If you don't have enough of one or both of those, then you end up with elevated homocysteine levels. Now, sometimes there's genetic problems, even independent of deficiency where your body is not making the conversion. So there's problems with folate metabolism and B12 utilization that can lead to deficiencies independent of what the blood test shows. So your blood test may show you look all good, you're in the normal ranges, but you still have a problem with high homocystine. So that's where you need to understand sometimes when you have genetic mutations, like MTHFR and other genetic alterations may come into play.
Methotrexate and some other medications can also lead to high homocystine. Methotrexate actually interferes with folate metabolism, so it makes sense that methotrexate could potentially raise your homocystine levels. Kidney disease and problems with the kidneys can also lead to elevated homocysteine levels. And this is thought to be related to losing your B12 and folate through your urinary tract.
Lifestyle factors like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and high protein diets can also lead to elevations in homocystine. Most of those are going to be tied in with folate and B12 deficiency. So the high protein diet is in and of itself going to contain methionine, so it can raise your homocysteine levels because methionine is then turned back into homocystine, and then it has to be turned back into methionine. So if you're consuming a lot of methionine-rich foods, which are animal protein, you may end up with higher homocystine levels. Smoking has also been reported to cause elevated levels of homocystine and of course alcohol consumption depletes B vitamins like B12 and folate. And so that can also lead to high homocysteine levels.
Also, homocystine levels tend to increase with age and is also more common in men than women. The exact link there between age and male versus female is not fully understood. Also should note that a deficiency in B6 can also lead to high homocysteine.
And when you're measuring your homocysteine levels, you want to be in a fasting state to look at B12 and folate deficiency. If it's elevated when you're in a fasting state, that means you're probably deficient in one or both of those. And if it's elevated when when you're in a fed state, that could be more of an indication of B6 deficiency. When we say elevation here, I usually use the marker of anything above nine would be considered elevated, but depending on how high it is, will depend on the level of intervention and also what kind of symptoms you have. As it gets into the double digits, like 12 and 15, 15 is actually considered hyperhomocysteinemia and that's when we see, when we're serious problems from high homocysteine levels. - Věda a technologie
My Homocystiene levels on my last bloodtest was 54.3. I found out my MTHFR GENE has mutations from both parents. I now take 2mg methyfolate daily and waiting till my next bloodtest to see if that's the problem(Oh, and my dr started me on sublingual b12 daily as well). I'm the healthiest 44 year old my Dr has ever seen(or so he says because of my weight,190, and regular blood work).........He had never tested my homocystiene levels until I got a genetic test done.
Yeah that’s very high homocysteine number good luck to you.
Did you get the tested again?
When I got my Homocystiene blood work the first time(54.3), I wasn't told to fast before the test. I had eaten steak and eggs for breakfast. So that's why it was soooo high. My fasted Homocystiene levels were 11.1.
I'm glad you commented, I have the MTHFR gene mutation as well I guess I should start by getting the homocysteine levels checked and going from there. I wonder if that could be contributing to why I have a lot of fatigue and motivation issues? Maybe partially? I went from being a younger motivated guy to now being 40 putting on some weight and just not caring about things like I used to. Self-employed remodeling contractor with a good reputation and I'm kind of letting everything I work for just go by the wayside in the last year I should probably go get some blood work done I guess curious to see what your levels are have your next round of blood work. Make sure you update us. Thanks for posting😊
@@hecklerkoch2446 yep fasting homocysteine is more accurate and reflective of b12 and folate levels.
This was simple to understand and to the point. Looking forward to part 2. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Very clear, great presentation
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you 🙏🙏
You're welcome 😊
Hi my homocysteine levels go up in doubles the normal lab ranges and i seem to be having normal b12 levels ,was kinda confused so go get a blood test not fasting for b 6 then ?
What would cause high b12 without supplements or meat/dairy? Is there a risk
This video is very helpful. My Vitamin B12 is within range but Homocysteine is 28.66. Can you please shed some light as what could be the probable reason behind it and how to lower it? Thanks a lot.
Yes good question.
How’s your folate level?
High triglycerides caused mine
How high are you levels?
i have 18 for years and no symptoms, once it was 12
How do you combat this is you have the MTHFR gene? Thank you!!
I would also like to know how.
Ok
If you do not have a high CRP or ESR, can you still have a high homocysteine level. My genetic testing came back positive for MTHFR mutations. I asked my doctor if we should test my homocysteine level and she said no. But I just need to start. I’m having a hard time understanding it. But she’s a new doctor to me so I’m trying not to irritate her by asking too many questions. It would make sense to me to know whether or not I am supplementing to actually correct anything that’s wrong. Because people can have the mutation but very minimal symptoms.
Crp and esr are inflammatory markers and homocysteine is more of a nutritional marker. So yes it can be high in absence of the others being high.
Currently the level of homocysteine in my case is over 100. I do not eat a lot of meat, I rarely have an appetite for it. I'm not vegan either. After my keto I switched to low carb. I had high B12 defficiency and got injections for 6 months with it. I supplement B12, B6, B9 and still the level of homocysteine is going up. Ongoing, regular supplementation is the only thing the doctors in Belgium can advise in my case.I rather go for non-vegan proteins in powder. I wonder what I should change in my diet. I had a heart attack when I was 36 due to that genetical condition.
Humm well the units may be different bc 100 is extremely high. Either way not all B9 is the same so you might want to look at some of my videos on MTHFR and methylation.
What if you have b12 of 500 and folate of 20? That seems fine
Yes it may seem fine but b12 can be much higher and serum folate does not reflect levels of active folate
@@swintegrative my homocystein was 11 and I'm an otherwise fit and healthy 29 year old.
I have 10 homocysteine levels and doctor said its normal range. ?
Check out my other videos on high homocysteine. Optimal 7-9