Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid produced as part of the body’s methylation process. The level of homocysteine in the plasma is increasingly being recognised as a risk factor for disease and seen as a predictor of potential health problems such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s.⁠

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The complex metabolism of homocysteine within the body is highly dependent on vitamin derived cofactors, and deficiencies in vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6 are associated with raised homocysteine levels. Other factors thought to raise levels are poor diet, poor lifestyle – especially smoking and high coffee and alcohol intake, some prescription drugs (such as proton pump inhibitors), diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and poor thyroid function.⁠

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There is no consensus about the upper reference limits for plasma homocysteine concentrations although the ‘normal’ range for healthy individuals is considered to be between 5 and 15 µmol/L. However levels as low as 6.3 µmol/L are thought to confer an increased risk and each 5 µmol/L can increase the risk of coronary heart disease events by approximately 20%.⁠

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The good news is that homocysteine levels can be tested and high homocysteine levels can, in many cases, be normalised through diet and vitamin supplementation. The most important nutrients that help lower homocysteine levels are folate, the vitamins B12, B6 and B2, zinc and trimethylglycine (TMG). ⁠