Understand your Homocysteine Blood Test Results…

This page helps you to understand blood test results for Homocysteine and gives you the reference range to determine if your lab test results mean that you have high, low or normal Homocysteine levels. 

We outline the risk factors associated with raised Homocysteine.

Reference Ranges for Homocysteine:

Homocysteine is a Sulphur based amino acid released as the body digests dietary protein. At high levels, homocysteine can be harmful to your health.  Removing homocysteine from the body is highly dependent on vitamin B12, folate and vitamin B6, and deficiencies in these vitamins are associated with raised homocysteine levels.  These deficiencies can be caused by both diet and genetic factors [18].

Other factors thought to raise levels of homocysteine are poor diet and lifestyle – especially smoking and high coffee and alcohol intake and some prescription drugs (such as proton pump inhibitors). Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and poor thyroid function are also thought to raise homocysteine [18].

Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid produced as part of the body’s methylation process.  Methylation is the process in which small parts of molecules, called methyl groups, are passed from one molecule to another [19].

This process facilitates the production and metabolism of hormones and neurotransmitters in the body, and as such is key to physical and mental well-being.  In order for the liver to have an adequate supply of methyl groups available, an adequate intake of vitamins B6 (e.g., whole grains and legumes) and B12 (primarily from animal products), and folate (such as from green leafy vegetables) are necessary [19].

Elevated plasma homocysteine is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased incidence of stroke, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, bone fracture, and higher prevalence of chronic heart failure. It is also proven that elevated plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for preeclampsia and neural tube defects [20]. This multitude of relationships between elevated plasma homocysteine and disease points to the existence of a common denominator which may be responsible for these diseases. Whether this denominator is homocysteine itself or homocysteine is merely a marker, remains to be determined [20].

A Reduction in the activity of the MTHFR gene increases mean homocysteine levels by reducing the availability of the co-factors required to metabolise homocysteine.  This genetic defect is thought to be present in varying degrees in up to 30% of the world’s population, although the frequency varies widely between different ethnic populations [18].

Homocysteine Levels tend to increase with age and higher levels are more common in men than women. Levels of homocysteine can increase with oestrogen deficiency and with some long term medications, including corticosteroids.

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