High Homocysteine … A Risk to Your Heart? - Page 2
Q: Which of the following foods will help ensure that your diet has enough B12 and folate?
salmon, trout, and tuna
lima, pinto, and navy beans
bananas
all of the above
A. The correct answer is "all of the above."
Fruits and vegetables contain compounds that are helpful in controlling the production of homocysteine. Lima beans, pinto beans, and navy beans are great sources of folate (B9). So are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vegetables. And many grain products, such as cereals and breads, are fortified with the synthetic form of folate -- folic acid. Aim to get 700 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid or folate per day through diet and supplements.
Salmon, trout, and tuna are good choices for B12. Other sources of vitamin B12 are meat, poultry, yogurt, milk, and milk products. Aim to get 25 mcg of B12 per day.
Another important nutritional player in homocysteine control appears to be vitamin B6. Bananas are one source of it, but you’ll also find it in chicken, sunflower seeds, artichokes, and sweet potatoes. The RealAge recommendation for vitamin B6 is 4 milligrams per day.
Getting a good mix of all these essential nutrients in your diet can help ensure your homocysteine levels stay in check. If your levels are already high, a supplement that contains folic acid, as well as vitamins B12 and B6, is a common part of treatment. Check with your doctor before you begin a new supplement program.
Keep in mind, however, that it is not yet known if lowering homocysteine levels with these nutrients will in turn decrease the risk of vascular disease. Scientists continue to grapple with this question.
What are some of the other things that influence homocysteine? The answer follows . . .
Q: Which of the following factors can affect your homocysteine levels?
genetics/family history
lifestyle (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, and coffee use)
disease/health conditions
medications/treatments
all of the above
A: The correct answer is "all of the above."
Your genetic makeup and gender play a big role in determining homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels run in some families, as do enzyme deficiencies that can lead to high homocysteine levels. Also, the amount of homocysteine in a person’s bloodstream will be affected by gender; men tend to have higher levels than women.
Coffee consumption and cigarette smoking both have been associated with elevated homocysteine levels, but more studies are needed to determine the exact relationship. Moderate alcohol consumption (less than a drink per day for women; less than two drinks per day for men) has been shown to lower homocysteine levels.
Find more details on coffee and other lifestyle factors that may affect homocysteine levels in this article published in Pharmacological Reviews.
Certain health conditions such as hypothyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, and malignancies also may cause abnormally high tHcy. The use of certain medications, including cholesterol-lowering drugs, certain cancer treatments, hormone medications, anti-seizure drugs, psoriasis treatments, and some forms of anesthesia, have similar effects. Speak with your healthcare provider if you are concerned that any of these medical factors may be affecting your health.
Stay Tuned
As it stands, many questions still remain to be answered about homocysteine. Studies should soon yield more definitive answers regarding this recent addition to the list of potential heart disease risk factors. While researchers continue to study the importance of this amino acid, controlling some of the known influences on homocysteine levels can help ensure your levels stay within a healthy range.
