A simple blood test will measure the amount of homocysteine, an amino acid, in your body. The purpose of this blood test is to assess conditions that may alter the function or blood concentration of B vitamins in your system. It might also be called a plasma homocysteine test. If your doctor orders a homocysteine test for you, it could be for a routine health screening. Diseases or conditions that might be detected by abnormal homocysteine levels include hardening of the arteries, a vascular disorder, a minor vitamin deficiency, or a kidney disorder.
Homocysteine is an amino acid manufactured by the human body. While it is a naturally occurring amino acid--often derived from meat consumption--it is not always a safe one, especially in higher amounts. A high homocysteine level may be associated with a number of medical issues, including heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and venous thromboembolism (blood clots within the veins.) "Some evidence suggests that people with high homocysteine levels have twice the normal risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," says Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D. Your doctor should analyze your homocysteine levels, but some basic knowledge about what the numbers mean will…
Homocysteine is a molecular compound with the formula C4H9NO2S. It's among a class of molecules called amino acids that play vital roles in biology. Some studies have found that elevated blood levels of homocysteine seem to be linked to heart disease, although the evidence suggests reducing homocysteine levels won't cause an improvement in cardiovascular health for most people.
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. According to Health Library, buildups of high cholesterol, calcium, white blood cells and plaque can contribute to high homocysteine levels. Doctors do the test for several reasons.
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the bloodstream linked to increased risks for the development of stroke, peripheral vascular disease and coronary heart disease. Treatments for high homocysteine are typically diet-related.
Homocysteine is a sulfur amino acid normally produced during metabolism. If it isn't properly broken down, cells deposit it into the bloodstream and the level of homocysteine rises. It is a risk factor for several diseases.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is an important metabolite for maintaining health. Elevated homocysteine is associated with a variety of diseases, including vascular and heart disease. In an effort to decrease disease risk associated with elevated blood plasma homocysteine levels, this article will show how to reduce homocysteine.
Even though it serves an essential function in the body, homocysteine causes damage to blood vessels and cells if there is too much of it circulating in the blood. A high level of homocysteine increases your risk for coronary artery disease, so obtaining a test for homocysteine may be an important part of health screening.
Homocysteine plays an important role in the body, but if it exists in high levels in the blood, it can cause tissue damage and disease. Researchers have shown that high homocysteine levels are an indicator of increased risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline and kidney disease.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that uses B vitamins to break down into other needed amino acids in the body. When the levels become elevated due to vitamin deficiencies, there is an increase in the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Many times the symptoms of a homocysteine increase does not appear until cardiovascular and other diseases appear.
Homocysteine is an amino acid; levels in the body rise naturally with age. Normally, it is present in small amounts (5 to 15 umol/L), because it is produced as part of methionine conversion to S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), an amino acid often used to treat depression. Homocysteine created in this way is bound to plasma and stored. But stress and other health problems cause the release of homocysteine into the bloodstream. This free homocysteine damages the cells of blood vessels, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Homocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood that is monitored to help determine the risk of cardiovascular disease. High plasma homocysteine is commonly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. There are several fairly simple steps that can be taken towards lowering the homocysteine levels in the body, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, or taking a folate supplement prescribed by your doctor along with additional vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 supplements.
Homocysteine is a protein-building amino acid found in the bloodstream. At normal levels, it performs its job without harmful side effects. However, studies cited by the American Heart Association indicate that increased levels of homocysteine may contribute to the development of several dangerous health conditions, including stroke, coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. While the link is not entirely understood, individuals at risk for these conditions should seriously consider taking steps to reduce their homocysteine levels.
Homocysteine is an amino acid. Homocysteine levels become elevated in the blood when the body has significant deficiencies of folic acid (vitamin B9), vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. However, homocysteine levels can also become elevated by increasing age, pre-existing kidney impairment and other genetic factors. Elevated homocysteine levels in the blood have been linked to higher rates of disease.
Homocysteine disease is caused by increased levels of homocysteine in the body. Homocysteine is a type of amino acid that helps the body fight common diseases, but increased levels lead to problems such as stroke and heart attack.