Homocysteine in serum
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Homocysteine is a product of the exchange of amino acids (conversion of methionine to cysteine). Approximately 70% of plasma homocysteine is associated with albumin, 30% is oxidized to disulfide and only 1% is in a free state. The overwhelming majority of methods used to detect the level of homocysteine in the blood allow us to determine only the total content of the oxidized and reduced forms. The results of the analyzes depend to a large extent on the correctness of the blood sampling and the rate at which the serum is separated from the blood cells, as the blood cells continuously produce and release homocysteine.
Homocysteine in serum is still undeservedly deprived of attention not only of ordinary citizens, but sometimes of doctors, of amino acids. As a substance homocysteine has been known for more than a hundred years, but only in the second half of the XX century it began to be studied more thoroughly. Such an increased interest in homocysteine is associated with cardiovascular diseases. Earlier, doctors sinned on the notorious cholesterol, accusing it of harmful effects on blood vessels, today homocysteine in the blood serum was included in the number of "suspects". The amount of this until the end of the unexplored amino acid is rapidly increasing because of all the known disastrous human habits - smoking and coffee abuse.
So, homocysteine in the blood serum is an important amino acid, which is born in another, no less important substance - methionine. In turn, methionine is a sulfur-containing, irreplaceable, that is, not synthesized in the human body, an amino acid. A lot of methionine in those foods that are not welcomed by vegetarians. However, eggs, meat, and many other categories of products are extremely necessary for people, especially young, because it is animal protein that gives the body a normal amount of energy. Homocysteine in the serum also participates in this energy process, as well as in the formation of proteins. If homocysteine is too much, it automatically goes into methionine form or is simply removed from the body. There are several ways to neutralize excess homocysteine, they are different, but they are united by one - the process of fermentation and the mandatory presence of B vitamins, as well as folic acid. True, there are cases when, due to hereditary pathologies, in humans a surplus of homocystine amino acid can not be neutralized. For such people it is important to take a special substance, also an amino acid - betaine, which is contained in large quantities in ordinary beets (from the Latin beta-beetroot). In addition, in case of genetic disorders that do not allow the utilization of excess homocysteine in the blood serum, you should not drink coffee or any products containing caffeine.
[Homocysteine in the serum, what is its normal level?
First of all, the level of homocysteine affects the normal state of the vessels. Primary damage depends not on the above-mentioned cholesterol, but on how high the level of homocysteine in the blood serum. This amino acid, accumulating, as if "scratches" the walls, especially the inner vessels. The organism, of course, tries to be compensated and protected, microcircums begin to be filled with small thrombi, and only then cholesterol is included in the work. So the vessels of the body and build up the infamous cholesterol deposits and plaques.
The reference values (norm) of serum homocysteine concentration are: in women 5-12 μmol / l, in men - 5-15 μmol / l.
Who was the first scientist to pay close attention to homocysteine in the serum?
The first to study the toxic effect of homocysteine was Dr. Climmer McCully, his scientific work dates back to the 1960s. Of course, in the era of the fight against cholesterol, which was "designated" as the main enemy of the vascular system, no one paid attention to the discovery of McCully. However, the scholar's obstinacy had no boundaries, he regularly published scientific works wherever his colleagues could read, and eventually forced the medical world to recognize the harmful function of excess homocysteine. The fact is that when studying homocystinuria - a fairly rare, serious genetic disease, McCully discovered a deficiency of B vitamins, as well as some enzymes in patients. As soon as patients began to take appropriate therapy, the condition of the vascular walls improved significantly, although complete recovery did not occur.
Homocysteine in the blood serum, exceeding the norm, as a risk factor can be inherited. In addition, an elevated level of homocysteine is noted in all the fair sex, using as a contraceptive specific drugs.
Homocysteine in the blood serum, reduced by 30-40% - is the goal of modern scientists and pharmacologists of the XXI century dealing with cardiovascular problems. Every thousand men could live 8 to 10 years longer, women this period is slightly lower, however, it is from 4 to 6 years.