Serum Homocysteine

Homocysteine is a product of amino acid metabolism (the conversion of methionine to cysteine). Approximately 70% of plasma homocysteine is bound to albumin, 30% is oxidized to disulfide, and only 1% is free. The vast majority of methods used to detect homocysteine levels in the blood allow only the total content of the oxidized and reduced forms to be determined. The results of the tests largely depend on the correctness of blood sampling and the speed of separation of serum from blood cells, since blood cells continuously produce and secrete homocysteine.

Homocysteine in blood serum is an amino acid that has been unfairly neglected by not only ordinary citizens, but sometimes even doctors. Homocysteine has been known as a substance for over a hundred years, but it was only in the second half of the 20th century that it began to be studied more thoroughly. Such an increased interest in homocysteine is associated with cardiovascular diseases. Previously, doctors blamed the notorious cholesterol, accusing it of having a harmful effect on blood vessels, but today homocysteine in blood serum has also been included among the "suspects". The amount of this amino acid, which has not yet been fully studied, is rapidly increasing due to the well-known harmful human habits - smoking and coffee abuse.

So, homocysteine in the blood serum is an important amino acid that is born in another, no less important substance - methionine. In turn, methionine is a sulfur-containing, essential, that is, not synthesized in the human body, amino acid. There is a lot of methionine in those products that are not welcomed by vegetarians. However, eggs, meat, and many other categories of products are extremely necessary for people, especially young people, because it is animal protein that gives the body a normal amount of energy. Homocysteine in the blood serum also participates in this energy process, as well as in the formation of proteins. If there is too much homocysteine, it automatically turns into methionine form or is simply excreted from the body. There are several ways to neutralize excess homocysteine, they are different, but they have one thing in common - the fermentation process and the mandatory presence of B vitamins, as well as folic acid. However, there are cases when, due to hereditary pathologies, a person's excess homocysteine amino acid cannot be neutralized. For such people, it is important to take a special substance, also an amino acid – betaine, which is found in large quantities in regular beets (from the Latin beta – beet). In addition, in the case of genetic disorders that do not allow the utilization of excess homocysteine in the blood serum, you cannot drink coffee or any products containing caffeine.

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Serum homocysteine, what is its normal level?

First of all, the level of homocysteine affects the normal condition of the vessels. Their primary damage does not depend on the above-mentioned cholesterol, but on how high the level of homocysteine is in the blood serum. This amino acid, accumulating, seems to "scratch" the walls, especially the internal ones, of the vessels. The body, of course, tries to compensate and protect itself, micro-scratches begin to fill with small blood clots, and only then cholesterol gets to work. This is how the body's vessels build up the infamous cholesterol deposits and plaques.

Reference values (norm) for serum homocysteine concentration are: 5-12 μmol/l for women, 5-15 μmol/l for men.

Who was the first scientist to pay close attention to homocysteine in blood serum?

The first person to study the toxic effect of homocysteine was Dr. Klimmer McCulley, his scientific work dates back to 1960. Of course, in the era of the fight against cholesterol, which was "appointed" the main enemy of the vascular system, no one paid attention to McCulley's discovery. However, the scientist's stubbornness knew no bounds, he regularly published scientific papers wherever his colleagues could read them, and, in the end, forced the medical world to recognize the harmful function of excess homocysteine. The fact is that while studying homocystinuria - a rather rare, serious genetic disease, McCulley 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 increased level of homocysteine is noted in all representatives of the fair sex, using specific drugs as a contraceptive.

Homocysteine in the blood serum, reduced by 30-40% - this is the goal of modern scientists and pharmacologists of the 21st century, dealing with the problems of the cardiovascular system. Every thousand men could live 8-10 years longer, for women this period is somewhat lower, however, it is from 4 to 6 years.