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Move Over Cholesterol
Can you imagine any substance getting a worse rap than cholesterol? After all, how many people do you know who (1) have never purchased a product that was labeled "low cholesterol" or "cholesterol free," or (2) have never seen an advertisement for Lipitor (atorvastatin), the $12.9 billion dollar, best-selling, cholesterol-lowering statin drug of 2006, or (3) have never had their cholesterol measured, either in a doctor's office or a shopping mall?
Well, it's time to start imagining a new substance moving onto health's center stage.
FULL STORY:
That substance is homocysteine - a relatively unknown amino acid that was the subject of 500 research studies in 2006 and nearly 2,500 studies over the past 5 years. Similar to elevated cholesterol, elevated homocysteine is now considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries). It's also been linked to increased risk of stroke, diabetes-related kidney problems, and age-related cognitive problems.
What's unique about homocysteine is its place in our metabolism. When properly metabolized, homocysteine can help us detoxify environmental pollutants and other unwanted substances in our body. It can also bolster our antioxidant system and help prevent damage to our tissue from free radicals. But when it isn't properly metabolized and it builds up inside our bloodstream (a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia), homocysteine can cause a multitude of problems.
What researchers now understand is that homocysteine latches on to cells throughout our body (including cells along our blood vessel walls) and disrupts their activity. With nerve cells, the result is over-stimulation and eventual damage to the nervous system. With the endothelial cells lining our blood vessels, the result is a weakened cardiovascular structure and eventual heart disease.
Fortunately, we've got practical ways to lower our risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. We can start out by having our blood level of homocysteine measured, to see if it's too high. Second, we can often lower it (as well as prevent it from becoming too elevated) by increasing our dietary intake of vitamins B6, B12, and folate. Green leafy vegetables are a great start for the B6 and folate. Non-plant foods are better for B12. Shrimp, scallops, snapper, and salmon are some of our favorites.
References:
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: homocysteine, cholesterol, heart health, health and wellness
Well, it's time to start imagining a new substance moving onto health's center stage.
FULL STORY:
That substance is homocysteine - a relatively unknown amino acid that was the subject of 500 research studies in 2006 and nearly 2,500 studies over the past 5 years. Similar to elevated cholesterol, elevated homocysteine is now considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries). It's also been linked to increased risk of stroke, diabetes-related kidney problems, and age-related cognitive problems.
What's unique about homocysteine is its place in our metabolism. When properly metabolized, homocysteine can help us detoxify environmental pollutants and other unwanted substances in our body. It can also bolster our antioxidant system and help prevent damage to our tissue from free radicals. But when it isn't properly metabolized and it builds up inside our bloodstream (a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia), homocysteine can cause a multitude of problems.
What researchers now understand is that homocysteine latches on to cells throughout our body (including cells along our blood vessel walls) and disrupts their activity. With nerve cells, the result is over-stimulation and eventual damage to the nervous system. With the endothelial cells lining our blood vessels, the result is a weakened cardiovascular structure and eventual heart disease.
Fortunately, we've got practical ways to lower our risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. We can start out by having our blood level of homocysteine measured, to see if it's too high. Second, we can often lower it (as well as prevent it from becoming too elevated) by increasing our dietary intake of vitamins B6, B12, and folate. Green leafy vegetables are a great start for the B6 and folate. Non-plant foods are better for B12. Shrimp, scallops, snapper, and salmon are some of our favorites.
References:
- Homocysteine-lowering trials for prevention of cardiovascular events: a review of the design and power of the large randomized trials. Am Heart J. 2006 Feb; 151(2):282-7.
- Carlsson, C. M. Homocysteine lowering with folic acid and vitamin B supplements: effects on cardiovascular disease in older adults. Drugs Aging. 2006; 23(6):491-502.
- Castro, R.; Rivera, I.; Blom, H. J.; Jakobs, C., and Tavares de Almeida, I. Homocysteine metabolism, hyperhomocysteinaemia and vascular disease: an overview. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2006 Feb; 29(1):3-20.
- Ceperkovic, Z. [The role of increased levels of homocysteine in the development of cardiovascular diseases]. Med Pregl. 2006 Mar-2006 Apr 30; 59(3-4):143-7.
- Guthikonda, S. and Haynes, W. G. Homocysteine: role and implications in atherosclerosis. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2006 Mar; 8(2):100-6.
- Hankey, G. J. Is plasma homocysteine a modifiable risk factor for stroke? Nat Clin Pract Neurol. 2006 Jan; 2(1):26-33.
- Jacobs, P.; Wood, L., and Bick, R. Homocysteine in vascular disease: an emerging clinical perspective. Cardiovasc J S Afr. 2006 May-2006 Jun 30; 17(3):135-9.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: homocysteine, cholesterol, heart health, health and wellness
Labels: integrative medicine
13 Comments:
What level of homocysteine do you consider too high? What evidence do you have to support that opinion?
That's what I'd like to know too: what level is too high?
Just one more thing for the doctor's to give more pills that have side effects. the side effects are worse then what you are taking them for and you can tell your doctor about them until you are blue in the face and they will just tell you grin an bare it or put you on another form of pill. They never look for the cause, just hand out pills. to me this new thing is just another way to make money for the drug company's and the doctors and to make people think they are sicker then they really are.
Dr. are now pill pushers--not prob solvers. WE need to stay current. I just wonder how much $ Docs get from Drug Cos? Lipito in the BILLIONs? Ludicrus!!
i quit taking lipitor because it seems the possible side effects are just as dangerous as having high cholesterol, as a matter of fact i am 66 years young and don't take any prescription medicine, only vitamins and some otc pain med. for arthritis. we all have to go some time but i think i have a good chance of being around a long time with out all the stuff dr's. would like me to be taking.
I took Lipotor and ended up as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. I also took Vytorin and my legs swelled up. I no longer take any of the statins. You are right the after effects are worse then the disease. I agree the Drs are no longer looking for the the problems solvers...instead they give you a pill. What has changed the Drs.? Is money that important?
Great to see the questions and excellent comments. Interestingly, I recently wrote an editorial for Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal where I reviewed the research that shows high homocysteine levels correlate with a poor diet. While talking very safe dosoages of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid will easily lower homocysteine to safe levels, the same can be accomplished by improving diet. The more I study nutritional and health, the more I come to the conclusion there is no substitute for a whole foods diet. An of course, the best part of a whole foods diet (besides the great taste) is the side effects of...better health.
A good question re the maximum safe level of homocysteine. The number keeps changing with new research. At this time I suggest less than 9 umol/L. However, I have seen some researchers recommend that the maximum should be even lower.
I had a problem with very high readings of Triglycerides, my cholesterol was about 166. My doctor recommended that I take an an elevated level of Niacin to correct the problem. I take about 700-900 mg per day and in three months the cholesterol dropped to 139 and the Triglycerides from 814 down to 144. No side effects. They also have the non flushing type as well.
Another important factor that has now been linked with blood circulatory blocks in blood vessels leading to strokes(heart or other), is breakdown of platelets by gram-negative bacterial toxins released during even mild infections as outer membrane vesicles. These vesicles attach themselves to cholesterol rafts of host plasma membrane and exert action detrimental (eg microthromboisis, apoptosis, invasion etc) to the host. Details of this phenomenon of exocytosis from prokaryotes is given in paper: YashRoy RC 2003 in Toxicology International vol 10, pp 1-9. by Prof. R.C. YashRoy
My husband wants to get of off Vytorin and Plavix - he's been on them for years - does any one have any idea how to do this safely?
I appreciate the information stated so concisely. I have been diagnosed with hyperhomosteinemia because of mutant gene.
Like Anonymous(oct 28,2008), I also was diagnosed with hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from a paired mutant gene. The diagnosis was made subsequent to my having two strokes and a DVT within 18 months, for which NO APPARENT REASON could be found. The erratic changes in my homocysteine levels are now believed to be the contributing factor. Currently I take vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid supplements to stabilize my homocysteine level, eat healthy, and live an active lifestyle.
-Mystery victim-
I,too had a stroke FOR NO APPARENT REASON,but a culprit was named that I still wonder about-a dissected carotid artery.I was in excellent physical health at 47yo(which baffled some Drs),so now I'm exploring the homocysteine route as a cause for weakening my artery.I was under a lot of stress and probably didn't eat that well(few veggies),even though I took vitamin supplements and my cholesterol numbers were in line. As a physically active(jogger) person who suddenly collapses(no drugs), I've had to live with the mystery for 13 yrs now and worry about my children(genetics?).Could homocysteins be the terrorist?
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