What are Normal Homocysteine Levels?‏ ‏/ Ray D. Strand, M.D.

The medical literature has shown us that a homocysteine level below 6.5 micromols/L is a safe level. As the homocysteine level rises above this level the risk of cardiovascular disease will increase. The higher these levels the greater your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Most labs report a normal homocysteine should be in the range of 5 to 12 or even 15 micromols/L. If your homocysteine level is above 12 micromols/L, you are in serious trouble. There are now even studies that show that individuals with elevated homocysteine levels are also at greater risk of developing several different kinds of cancers and even Alzheimer’s dementia.

The main point you must remember that the lower your homocysteine level the better. You certainly would want to see your homocysteine level below 6.5. The lower the better is the key when it comes to homocysteine levels. The next Health Nugget will tell you how you can lower your homocysteine level.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

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Homocystinuria / Dr. Kilmer McCully‏

In the early 1970”s, Dr. Kilmer McCully, who was a pathologist at Harvard, reviewed two autopsies of young boys who had died of a heart attack. This was very concerning since one of the boys was 7 and the other was only 3 years old. He observed that their arteries were as hardened as an 85 year old man’s arteries that had severe atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). These boys had a congenital disease known as homocystinuria. They did not have the ability to break down homocysteine into more benign products. Their homocysteine levels were extremely high. Most of these children never see their teenage years because they die prematurely from a heart attack or stroke.

This led Dr. Kilmer McCully to postulate that maybe normal individuals who may have slightly elevated homocysteine levels over a lifetime might be at greater risk themselves of having a premature heart attack or stroke. Several clinical trials over the years have shown that Dr. McCully was right. Elevated homocysteine levels, which can cause a tremendous amount of inflammation in our arteries, are an independent risk factor for developing a heart attack or stroke.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.

Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Lowering Homocysteine Levels / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

Most people seem to know their cholesterol level; however, they rarely know their homocysteine levels. Physicians just do not order this test routinely. The homocysteine level should be below 7, and higher levels cause greater risks of developing cardiovascular disease. Even though physicians may tell you that a homocysteine level of 12 or lower is fine, I would encourage you to try to get this level below 7. First, I would recommend taking 1,000 mcg of folic acid, 50 to 150 mg of vitamin B12, and 25 to 50 mg of vitamin B6. If you are one of those individuals who does not totally respond to B vitamins, you can consider adding Betaine (Trimethylglycine or TMG) to reduce your homocysteine levels. I recommend starting with 1 gram daily and building up to as much as 5 to 6 grams if necessary to get your homocysteine level down below 7, or at least below 8.

There have now been over 50 clinical trials that have shown that those individuals who have elevated homocysteine levels are not only at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease but also Alzheimer’s dementia and various cancers. Yet, there have not been any good studies showing that lowering your homocysteine levels actually decreases your risk of heart disease and stroke. My personal feeling is that they do not lower the homocysteine level enough and that there is very little difference between the control subjects and the treated group. Since we know that elevated homocysteine levels are definitely a risk factor for patients, wouldn’t it be best to lower their homocysteine levels to the safe range?

If you would like to know your homocysteine level and your doctor will not order it, members of my “Online Medical Practice” located at http://www.drraystrand.com/ can order this blood test in the US through my web site.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine