Lowering Homocysteine Levels Naturally

March 20th, 2013 by Loretta Lanphier, NP, BCTN, CN, CH, HHP

Lowering Homocysteine Levels Naturally

One of the markers to predict a person’s overall health status is by measuring homocysteine levels in the blood. In fact, research shows that homocysteine levels are a better indicator of heart attacks and strokes than high cholesterol levels.

Many people have never heard of homocysteine and don’t know to ask their doctor for a homocysteine blood test as part of a health and wellness check-up. The reason most doctors do not suggest this test is because, currently, there are no patented drugs that are designed to specifically lower blood levels of homocysteine. And those doctors who actually understand the diagnostic value of homocysteine may be reluctant to order a homocysteine level test for their patients because they wouldn’t know what to prescribe for those patients with high levels.

What is Homocysteine?

Homocysteine is an amino acid that the body makes from another amino acid called methionine. You obtain methionine from many protein-dense foods including sunflower seeds, eggs, meat, and fish.

In the best-case scenario, homocysteine is converted into two substances called SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine) and glutathione. Both SAMe and glutathione have health-promoting effects. Specifically, SAMe helps to prevent depression, arthritis, and liver damage. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant and detoxifying agent that helps to slow down aging. Therefore we see the necessity of the body being able to convert homocysteine into SAMe and glutathione.

Conversion of homocysteine to SAMe requires adequate levels of folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, zinc, TMG (trimethylglycine from choline), and magnesium.  Conversion of homocysteine to glutathione requires vitamin B6, vitamin B2, and zinc. When the body does not efficiently convert homocysteine into SAMe and glutathione, the amount of toxic homocysteine in the blood begins to rise

Health reasons one might have a high homocysteine level are kidney disease, psoriasis, and thyroid disease. It has also been recognized that some people have a common genetic variant (called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, abbreviated MTHFR) that impairs their ability to process folate. This defective gene leads to elevated levels of homocysteine in some people who inherit MTHFR variants from both parents. There are blood tests available to detect MTHFR variants.

Elevated Homocysteine Levels May Lead to

  • Stroke
  • Heart Attack
  • Plaque formation by damaging arterial walls
  • Risk of blood clot formation
  • Risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Oxidation and Aging
  • Weakened Immune System
  • Vascular Damage
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Migraines
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Hearing Loss
  • Brain Atrophy
  • Dementia
  • Cancer
  • Pain and Inflammation

Producers of High Homocysteine Levels

Many factors can contribute to high homocysteine (Hyperhomocysteinemia) levels:

  • Inadequate intake of folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, betaine, vitamin B2, and magnesium
  • Prescription drug (see list at end of the article)
  • Diet high in methionine (including red meat and dairy products)
  • Smoking
  • Coffee
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Advancing age
  • Obesity
  • High-stress levels
  • A genetic variant that causes an impaired ability to metabolize active folate from folic acid

What is Considered a High Level for Homocysteine?

Homocysteine levels are measured in the blood by taking a blood sample. Normal levels are in the range between 5 to 15 micromoles (measurement unit of a small amount of a molecule) per liter. Elevated levels are classified as follows:

  • 15-30 micromoles per liter as moderate
  • 30-100 micromoles per liter as intermediate
  • Greater than 100 micromoles per liter as severe

Note: Many practitioners believe that the optimal range for homocysteine levels is <8 µmol/L, much lower than the currently accepted <15 µmol/L. Studies indicate that adults with homocysteine value ≥6.3 µmol/L are at increased risk of atherosclerosis (Homocysteine Studies Collaboration), heart attack, and stroke (Broxmeyer 2004).

Natural Ways to Lower Homocysteine Levels

Healthy Foods (organic is best)

  • Spinach
  • Turnip Greens
  • Free Range Eggs
  • Asparagus
  • Garlic
  • Raw Nuts
  • Fruits
  • Black-Eyed Peas
  • Turmeric
  • Broccoli
  • Organic Brown Rice
  • Lentils
  • Chick Peas
  • Beans
  • Healthy fats and oils

Vitamins and Supplements

  • Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin
  • Folic Acid (5-MTHF)
  • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  • Vitamin B6
  • N-Acetyl-Cysteine
  • Zinc
  • Omega-3 rich fish oil (PUFAs)
  • Taurine
  • Trimethylglycine (TMG) and Choline
  • Magnesium Orotate
  • SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)

Lifestyle Changes

  • Healthy Diet
  • Avoid methionine-rich foods – red meats and dairy.
  • Lose Extra Weight
  • Control Diabetes
  • Control High Blood Pressure
  • Decrease Stress
  • Daily Exercise
  • Eliminate caffeine
  • No Smoking
  • Limited Alcohol

Drugs That Raise Homocysteine Levels

A number of prescription drugs and natural compounds can elevate blood levels of homocysteine by interfering with folate absorption or the metabolism of homocysteine. These include:

  • Caffeine (Verhoef 2002): Cafcit®, Cafergot®, Esgic®, Excedrin Migraine®, Fioricet®, Fiorinal®, Norgesic®, Synalgos-DC®
  • Cholestyramine (Tonstad 1998): Questran®, Questran Light®, Cholybar®
  • Colestipol: Cholestid® (Seshadri 1999)
  • Fenofibrate (Foucher 2010): Antara®, Fenoglide®, Lipfen®, Lofibra®, Tricor®, Trilpix®
  • Levadopa (Lee 2010): Parcopa®, Sinemet®, Stalevo®
  • Metformin (Desouza 2002): ActoPlus Met®, Avandamet®, Fortamet®, Glucophage® Glucovance®, Glumetza®, Janumet® Metaglip® Prandimet® Riomet®
  • Methotrexate (Desouza 2002): Rheumatrex®
  • Niacin (Desouza 2002): Advicor®, Ocuvite®, Cardio Basics®CitraNatal®, Heplive®, Niaspan®, Simcor®
  • Nitrous oxide (Myles 2008)
  • Pemetrexed (Li 2007) Alimta®
  • Phenytoin(Mintzer 2009): Dilantin®, Phenytek®
  • Pyrimethamine (Das 1976): Daraprim®, Fansidar®
  • Sulfasalazine (Haagsma 1999): Asulfidine®

In summary, high homocysteine levels, if not taken care of, can lead to serious disease. The good news is that the implementation of a very healthy diet and lifestyle changes go very far in supporting your body’s natural healing abilities. Not everyone can or will go cold-turkey and it’s okay to make these diet and lifestyle changes one-step-at-a-time as you climb your own personal nutritional and health ladder. God gave you one mouth and 4-5 (men 4 and women 5) elimination routes, thus your body can be very forgiving…for a time. The keywords are “for a time.” It is imperative to understand that everyone has a toxic threshold. If you are already experiencing chronic disease, I encourage you to begin to make changes as quickly as possible. Chances are you will begin to see some results quickly. Never give up!

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Loretta Lanphier is a Naturopathic Practitioner (Traditional), Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Clinical Herbalist as well as the CEO / Founder of Oasis Advanced Wellness in The Woodlands TX. She has studied and performed extensive research in health science, natural hormone balancing, anti-aging techniques, nutrition, natural medicine, weight loss, herbal remedies, non-toxic cancer support and is actively involved in researching new natural health protocols and products.  A 14 year stage 3 colon cancer survivor, Loretta is able to relate to both-sides-of-the-health-coin as patient and practitioner when it comes to health and wellness. “My passion is counseling others about what it takes to keep the whole body healthy using natural and non-toxic methods.” Read Loretta’s health testimony Cancer: The Path to Healing. Loretta is Contributor and Editor of the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness. Check out Oasis Advanced Wellness and our natural skin care products Oasis Serene Botanicals.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.

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