Homocysteine is an amino acid that the body produces. Aberrant homocysteine levels may indicate that a person has a deficiency in specific vitamins or a college chance of developing sure medical conditions.

About people accept low homocysteine levels because the body breaks downwardly the amino acrid into usable compounds.

High or elevated homocysteine levels could signal a person has a vitamin deficiency or has an increased risk gene for cardiovascular disease and several other weather.

In rare cases, homocysteine could exist due to homocystinuria, which is a genetic disease that doctors may exam for in a newborn.

Homocystinuria means that the body is not able to process amino acids properly.

a man feeling dizzy because of high homocysteine levels Share on Pinterest
A person with high homocysteine levels may feel weakness, dizziness, and fatigue.

According to an

older article

, normal and abnormal levels of homocysteine can vary betwixt people. However, typically, if a person's homocysteine levels are less than 13 micromoles/liter (μmol/L), healthcare providers consider them normal.

They also consider homocysteine levels measuring between 13–60 μmol/L as moderately high, and levels between lx–100 μmol/L as severely elevated.

According to a recent review of studies published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism , the presence of high levels of homocysteine may betoken a college risk factor for developing a range of conditions merely may not directly crusade them.

This means that lowering homocysteine levels will not necessarily prevent a particular condition from developing.

High homocysteine levels may indicate deficiencies in vitamins B-6 and B-12 and folate.

A study in PLOS ONE plant that at that place is a correlation between higher levels of homocysteine levels and deficiencies in folate and developing cancer. But scientists are unable to predict what blazon of cancer a person may be at adventure for.

A physician may recommend a person become a homocysteine level examination if they show signs of deficiency in vitamin B-half dozen, B-12, or folate.

A doctor may besides recommend that a person has their homocysteine levels tested if they are at increased hazard for eye disease or stroke or have a history of centre attacks and require monitoring.

A homocysteine test involves drawing blood. However, the test involves separating the blood cells and plasma quickly, and then unless a doctor has the facilities to do this in the office, a person may need to go to an outside laboratory to go the blood test.

A person's healthcare providers should provide instructions on where a person should go for the claret test.

Before the exam, a doctor may inquire the person fast for 10–12 hours, although they can drink water during this time. The doctor may too ask the person not to take medications or supplements before the test.

If the elevated levels are due to a deficiency in vitamins B-6 and B-12, or folate, a person may feel symptoms such as:

  • weakness
  • dizziness
  • sores on mouth or tongue
  • tingling in the anxiety, legs, hands, or arms
  • fatigue
  • pale skin

Vitamin B-six, B-12, and folate deficiencies are a common cause of higher homocysteine levels in some people. Just other factors include:

  • family history
  • genetics
  • nutrition
  • smoking
  • booze
  • diabetes
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • Crohn's illness

An article in the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology notes that homocysteine levels may also increase equally a person ages. Also, co-ordinate to Food for the Brain, a not-for-profit educational clemency, males are more likely to have higher levels than females.

According to a 2017 meta-analysis, healthcare professionals acquaintance high homocysteine levels with all-crusade mortality risks. For every five µmol/L increase in homocysteine levels, in that location was a 33.six% increase of all-cause mortality chance.

Potential conditions associated with high homocysteine levels include:

  • osteoporosis, which occurs when bones become weaker
  • Parkinson's illness, which is a disorder of the central nervous arrangement
  • dementia
  • multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the spinal cord and the brain
  • stroke
  • epilepsy
  • eclampsia, which is the onset of seizures caused due to high blood pressure
  • aortic aneurysm, which occurs when an aberrant bulge develops in the aorta
  • cardiovascular affliction
  • centre attack
  • atherosclerosis, which is an arterial disease
  • cancer
  • finish stage renal disease
  • hypothyroidism, which is when the body is unable to produce thyroid hormones

According to an commodity in Nutrition Journal , elevated homocysteine levels can likewise enhance the furnishings of hypertension, smoking, and increase inflammation.

A doctor volition recommend a blood test for homocysteine levels if the person has symptoms of vitamin B-6, B-12, or folate deficiency. They may as well run the test if the person already has adventure factors for centre disease.

If a person'south test results come up back with high levels of homocysteine, a doctor may need to run boosted tests to determine the underlying crusade.

In some cases, information technology may exist due to not getting enough nutrients. Other people may take an underlying health condition that needs additional treatment.

Treatment will vary according to the underlying condition. For example, if a person has a vitamin deficiency, a doctor may prescribe or recommend taking supplements to correct the deficiency. They may likewise recommend the person make dietary changes to help subtract their levels.

Typically, people take low levels of homocysteine in their blood. An elevated level could indicate a deficiency in certain vitamins or folate and may increase a person'southward risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and several other weather.

It is possible to lower homocysteine levels through dietary changes and by taking supplements. However, a dr. may go on to monitor the person for signs of heart affliction or other health atmospheric condition.

According to a 2022 review question, no prove suggests that lowering a person's homocysteine levels reduces the chance of developing cardiovascular events or cancer. However, the American Heart Association emphasize that a healthful diet tin help maintain a healthy eye.