High Homocysteine Levels Are Risk Factors For Alzheimer's, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes

High homocysteine levels in the blood is evidence of inadequate amounts of whole foods in the diet. Living a healthy lifestyle is essential to a long, disease-free life. This healthy lifestyle includes adequate portions of fruit (not fruit juice) and vegetables.

Homocysteine is an amino acid. It has been determined to be a risk factor for demetia, Alzheimer's disease, pregnancy complications, cardiovascular disease (stokes, heart attacks), osteoporosis and diabetes. As a matter of fact, high levels of this amino acid is one of the most dangerous risk factors for heart disease. It increases the risk of heart attack by 300%! And now researchers have discovered a link between high levels of this amino acid and migraine headaches. Fruit and vegetables contain nutrients which reduce these levels.

This amino acid is produced in the human body as a result of the chemical conversion of methionine, an essential amino acid. Methionine is consumed in the diet from foods which contain it. Fish for instance is an excellent source of this nutrient. Other sources include meat, dairy products, and whole grains. Factors such as genetics, menopause, and vitamin B deficiencies can raise homocysteine levels.

Food sources which protect against high levels of this amino acid are dark, green vegetables such as spinach, Brussels Sprouts, broccoli and asparagus; citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit; black-eyed peas and chickpeas; whole grain cereals. Folic acid, vitamins B-6 and B-12 are required to metabolize this amino acid.

As mentioned abov, the specific B vitamins needed to lower homocysteine levels are B6, B9, and B12. Vitamin B9 is better known as folate or folic acid depending on source. If the source is food, it is known as folate; if a supplement, folic acid.

Adults should get 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily. The body only absorbs 50 percent of the folate consumed. A supplement can supply the balance. It is recommended that you get 800 mcg daily.

Another supplement which will help lower high homocysteine levels is trimethylglyine or TMG. Daily dosage is 1,000 mg.