Many people ask: "Homocysteine - what is it and what role does it play?" Some are surprised at the appointment of analyzes when they see an unfamiliar name in the lists. So homocysteine - what is it? Despite the fact that he is involved in a large number of processes, some doctors ignore its importance in the human body. In the article we will analyze this concept in more detail.
Homocysteine determination
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is formed during the processing of methionine, which, in turn, is an indispensable acid, because it does not form in the human body, but comes with protein foods of animal origin. Folic acid and B vitamins are necessary for the metabolism of homocysteine. Normally, this amino acid is present in the body in a small amount. But if for some reason the necessary substances for processing are not enough, protective processes are launched, which throw it into the blood in large quantities. This leads to serious pathologies. Therefore, it is very important to control the amount of homocysteine in the blood and take measures to normalize it in time.
Health effects of homocysteine
Particular attention to the described amino acid should be given to people who have problems with blood vessels. Also, homocysteine is able to exert a great influence on the course of pregnancy.
Accumulating in the body, it begins an aggressive effect on the internal walls of the arteries. A kind of scratch or tear is formed, which the body tries to close immediately, using cholesterol. Over time, a cholesterol plaque forms and the vessel narrows. But even more dangerous is the condition in which the vessel is completely blocked, which can lead to rupture or the formation of a blood clot. Such a pathology sometimes leads to death.
Also, people who have elevated homocysteine have Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia.
Signs of an increase are swelling, low urine output and weight gain.
The amino acid plays a very important role during pregnancy. Constant monitoring of the level of homocysteine in the blood of a woman is necessary, since its increase can lead to the development of placental insufficiency, improper implantation of the fetal egg, and as a result to infertility. In the later stages, an increase in the level of this amino acid can lead to fetal hypoxia.
Causes of High Blood Amino Acids
Failure, in which there is an increase in homocysteine in the body, can be caused by the following reasons:
- deficiency of vitamins of group B and folic acid;
- renal failure;
- taking certain medications, including antidepressants;
- psoriasis;
- the presence of hormonal diseases;
- smoking and alcoholism;
- caffeine is of particular importance in increasing amino acid levels; in people who drink large amounts of coffee, homocysteine levels are always slightly higher.
Causes of Low Amino Acids
Homocysteine can be reduced in the following cases:
- During pregnancy. This, as a rule, is not a pathology. The decrease occurs at the end of the second - the beginning of the third trimester, after which there is again a tendency to increase. It is worth noting that a too low indicator is also a deviation. In this condition, physical activity and the use of a small amount of coffee are indicated in the absence of contraindications.
- With multiple sclerosis.
Norms
The homocysteine content becomes higher with age. It is also noted that in girls the concentration of amino acids in the blood is lower than in boys.
| Category | Children under 12 years old | Children 12-16 years old | Women | Men | Pregnant women |
| Norm, μmol / L | 5 | 5-7 | 4.6–20 | 6.26-15 | 4.6-12.4 |
The norm of homocysteine in women during pregnancy differs from the standard values.
If there is an increase in indicators by more than 5 μmol / l, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases almost twice.
Indications for analysis
Indications for analysis on the level of homocysteine in the blood are the following groups of people:
- patients with diabetes;
- people who have venous or arterial thrombosis;
- patients with senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease;
- pregnant women;
- patients who underwent surgery on the stomach;
- persons who have cardiovascular disease;
- women who have a difficult pregnancy;
- people with alcohol or drug addiction.
Analysis Preparation
Determining homocysteine levels - what kind of analysis is this? It is important to know the level of homocysteine in the blood not only to people at risk, but to everyone else. Deviations of indicators from the norm can lead to very serious consequences.
In order for its result to be most accurate, it is important to know how to donate homocysteine and how to properly prepare for blood donation.
The very first condition is that an analysis to determine the amount of amino acid in the blood serum is taken strictly on an empty stomach. About a day, it is necessary to exclude the use of fatty, salty foods, alcohol and smoking. The procedure is not performed after studies such as MRI, CT. The use of vitamin complexes can affect the accuracy of the result. It is also worth limiting physical activity as much as possible. Drinking only plain water is recommended.
Homocysteine during pregnancy
The result of homocysteine is very important when planning a pregnancy. Its increase can lead to the formation of disorders in the development of the fetus and adversely affects blood circulation in the placenta. Such dangerous events sometimes provoke miscarriages and premature births. For this reason, it is very important to control the level of homocysteine in the blood.
Optimum values should be in the range of 10–12 μmol / L. With a significant increase, the doctor prescribes additional laboratory tests for the level of B vitamins, folic acid. A nutritional analysis is underway, since an increase in homocysteine may be associated with a large intake of methionine from food. Exercise volume and coffee consumption can also affect blood amino acid levels.
Treatment
Treatment for increased homocysteine depends on how much the indicators differ from the norm. With a slight increase, corrective therapy is prescribed, which includes:
- Increased physical activity. During pregnancy, it is worth more to walk in the fresh air.
- Quitting smoking and alcohol.
- Reducing the use of coffee, and sometimes a complete rejection of it.
- To adjust the diet, reducing the intake of foods that contain methionine - cottage cheese, some varieties of meat, eggs.
- A diet is recommended that includes foods that contain B vitamins and omega-3s. These include: beef liver, tomatoes, mushrooms, legumes, nuts, broccoli, buckwheat, rice, etc.
If the tests indicate a significant increase in homocysteine in the blood, an individual therapy is prescribed, including taking preparations of B vitamins and folic acid, which, as a rule, are administered intramuscularly. This is due to malabsorption of vitamins in the gastrointestinal tract.
Also often taking medications that thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots. Most often in this case, "Aspirin" is prescribed.
Methods for increasing homocysteine
Low levels of amino acid are mainly adjusted by diet and lifestyle changes. Low homocysteine can cause general malaise. Corrected with protein rich foods. It is necessary to include more meat, eggs, fish in the diet. Also in this case, in the absence of contraindications, it is recommended to drink coffee.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned about homocysteine, which is a very important amino acid that can cause significant harm to the body. Therefore, it is necessary to keep its level in the blood constantly under control. A homocysteine test is a very important diagnostic method. Do not neglect it during the period of pregnancy planning and during the gestation of the baby. People prone to cardiovascular disease are also advised to systematically test for the determination of amino acids in their blood. To reduce the risk of developing various diseases due to an increase or a strong decrease in homocysteine, you need to lead a correct lifestyle, abandoning bad habits - smoking, alcohol. You also need to be in the fresh air as often as possible and, if possible, engage in active sports.
Identification of an increase in amino acids at the stage of pregnancy planning will allow you to undergo the necessary treatment before conception, thereby reducing the risk of fetal pathologies and complications of bearing a baby to a minimum.
Knowing what homocysteine is responsible for, one can avoid the risk of complications or minimize them.