Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting millions of Americans each year. While many of us are familiar with heart disease risk factors like diabetes, unhealthy dietary habits or obesity, there's another important factor that often goes unnoticed: the role of vitamin B in protecting heart health by helping the body break down a substance called homocysteine. But what is homocysteine, and how does its connection with vitamin B affect the heart?
Understanding the vitamin B and homocysteine connection in heart health
February 4, 2025
What is homocysteine?
Homocysteine is an amino acid (one of the building blocks of protein) produced in the body through metabolism. Under normal circumstances, homocysteine levels in the body are low because it's transformed by vitamins B6, B12 and B9 (also known as folate or folic acid). However, if you have a vitamin B deficiency, your homocysteine levels may rise above normal levels.
What do high homocysteine levels mean?
Elevated homocysteine levels can be more than just a sign of vitamin B deficiency. They are also associated with an increased risk of several health conditions, including heart disease, blood clots and other blood vessel disorders. It’s not certain how homocysteine levels affect heart disease risk, but it’s believed that high levels of homocysteine can damage the lining of your arteries and increase the risk of blood clots forming. For people already diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or those with other risk factors, a high homocysteine level may represent an additional risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease.
Testing your homocysteine levels
If you're concerned about your heart health, you might consider testing your homocysteine levels. Labcorp OnDemand offers a Homocysteine Test that measures the level of homocysteine in your blood. This test can provide important health insights, especially if you're assessing or monitoring heart disease risk factors. Understanding your personal health risks is key to making impactful choices to optimize your well-being.
It's important to note that high homocysteine levels may also be associated with genetic factors, certain medications or medical conditions such as kidney or thyroid disease. Age, gender and tobacco use are also key factors to consider when assessing homocysteine levels.
If you're interested in homocysteine testing, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help determine whether the test is right for you, help you interpret test results and provide guidance on next steps, if needed. While a homocysteine test has the potential to provide useful insights into cardiovascular risk, elevated levels can be caused by a variety of factors and should not be used to diagnose a vitamin deficiency or a heart or blood vessel condition.
By understanding the relationship between homocysteine, vitamin B and heart health, you can take a more comprehensive approach to protecting your heart health.
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