Heart disease remains the number one killer in the United States; however the leading cause of disability is stroke. The paralyzing after-effects of a stroke are feared much more than even a heart attack. A stroke is the third leading cause of death in America. Research indicates that an elevated homocysteine level is a greater indictor for stroke than assessing cardiac disease. Over a 37 year study, doctors discovered startling evidence that linked elevated homocysteine levels to increased risks of heart attacks, stroke and other disorders in aging adults. The study revealed that those patients that already had plaquing on their arteries (atherosclerotic plaque) had high levels of homocysteine.
So you're asking yourself, just what is this homocysteine level thingy? Homocysteine is formed from the incomplete metabolism of the amino acid methionine. The body requires B12, B6 and folic acid in order to completely metabolize methionine. Deficiencies of these nutrients causes methionine to be converted into homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine levels can cause endothelial dysfunction (damage to the inner lining of the arteries). This damage is the first step that occurs on the road to full blown atherosclerosis, which again is the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. The endothelium protects the smooth muscle found in the middle of the artery from these toxic metabolites that cause damage to the smooth muscle cells.
Diseases that have been associated with elevated blood homocysteine levels include: Cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, strokes, colon cancer, cervical cancer, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. Risk factors that are associated with damage to the arteries include: smoking, high blood pressure, poor diet, b-vitamin deficiencies, genetics, lack of exercise, increase blood sugar levels, increased fibrinogen levels, high levels of C-reactive protein-hs, and high iron levels.
A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine found that homocysteine blood levels between 9 and 15 doubled the mortality rates compared to values less than 9. Astonishingly, homocysteine levels above 15 increased the mortality rate by an 6.47 times the rate of those less than 9. Death rates rose dramatically when the homocysteine levels rose from 9 to 20.
The lab range (dead or dying range) for homocysteine is between 4.3 and 15.3 in men and 3.3 and 11.6 in women. The optimal or healthy range should be less than 7.2 in both women and men. This is important and write this down: Your homocysteine levels optimally should be less than 7.2, your fibrinogen needs to be optimally between 200 and 300 and your C-reactive protein-high sensitivity for men should be less than .55mg/L and women should be less than 1.5 mg/L.
God bless America and all of our troops. Yours in good health!