This article will look at how to lower homocysteine.
It is an organic low molecular weight compound, a non-protein sulfur-containing amino acid that does not come with food, but is obtained as a result of some biochemical processes that constantly occur in the human body. The synthesis of this substance occurs during the processes of metabolism of the amino acid, which is called methionine, occurring in many stages. This amino acid is classified as essential.
How does the body get it?
Since the human body cannot synthesize it on its own, it is forced to obtain methionine from animal products (eggs, meat, cottage cheese products). At the same time, with a sufficient amount of folic acid in the body, as well as B vitamins, which are actively involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, itable to re-include in metabolic processes and re-become methionine. In what situations do people wonder how to lower homocysteine?
What is the danger of a high level?
There are some he alth risks associated with elevated blood levels of homocysteine.
- This compound increases the likelihood of developing pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. A clear memory, a he althy heart, and full-fledged cognitive functions are directly related to the level of homocysteine in the body. A direct link between elevated levels of this amino acid in adults and diseases of the cardiovascular system at the end of the last century was suspected by a scientist from the USA, Kilmer S. McCulley. He laid the "homocysteine theory of atherosclerosis", where the scientist claims that it is not cholesterol that is the root cause of obstruction of blood vessels, namely homocysteine. Because it is this compound that initially has a destructive effect on the inner walls of blood vessels - the endothelium. Not everyone knows what homocysteine shows. How to downgrade?
- Deteriorates cognitive functions. Recently, scientific studies have shown a correlation between the intensity of hyperhomocysteinemia and the occurrence of atrophy and drying of the gray matter of the brain, along with the symptoms accompanying this pathological process. Alzheimer's disease, dementia, senile dementia - are directly dependent on high levels of homocysteine. If in the body the processes of reverse synthesis of this substance into non-hazardous compounds can occur in three ways, then in the brain this is limited to only one typechemical reaction. This predetermines the predisposition of elderly people with a high concentration of homocysteine to the processes of memory and cognitive depression, as well as changes in orientation in space and time.
- Contributes to the development of depressive states - not stresses are dangerous for the development of depression in a modern person, but the insufficiency of his mental functions to overcome them positively. As a result, prolonged depressive phenomena cause many dangerous pathologies, both physiological and mental. And in this case, scientists consider this amino acid to be the main culprit of such disorders, since it is it that inhibits the ability of brain cells to renew. Why is it necessary to quickly lower homocysteine?
- He is the enemy of he althy offspring. The correct processes of placental metabolism require a decrease in the level of homocysteine in expectant mothers, and in cases of normal pregnancy, this function is controlled by the body itself in the second and third trimesters. With high blood levels of this substance, doctors do not recommend conception planning and prescribe special medications (class B vitamins and folic acid). Contraceptives increase homocysteine levels. The danger of hyperhomocysteinemia for the unborn child is due to the harmful effect on the blood vessels, as a result of which the risk of various pathologies increases. In men, an increased rate also has a negative impact on the likelihood of conception.
How to lower homocysteine, see below.
The principle of the occurrence of a pathological disorder
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is not involved in protein synthesis. This chemical compound is a homologue of another amino acid, cysteine, which is metabolized from methionine during demethylation. With the proper functioning of the body, homocysteine is just a kind of transit agent during the metabolic process. It does not stay in its pure form in the body, but immediately turns into either cysteine or methionine, with subsequent excretion from the body in natural ways. It is at the stage of re-synthesis that some violations may occur. The reason for this phenomenon is that for the correct conversion of homocysteine, the presence of certain B vitamins - B6, B1, B9 and B12 is mandatory. Prolonged delays in the body of a substance disrupt the regulation of fat metabolism, detoxification and others, which leads to further disruption of the functioning of such important elements as adenosine, taurine, glutathione, etc.
Highly toxic acid
Homocysteine at the physical level is a highly toxic acid that destroys the inner walls of blood vessels, creating cracks and wounds. When protecting, the human body begins to mask these damages with cholesterol plaques and blood clots. As a result, obstruction develops in the vessels, which leads to the development of strokes and heart attacks.
How to lower homocysteine, you need to find out in advance.
Normal level
The normal concentration of a substance in the blood is no more than 15 micromoles per liter. However, nutritionists and doctors recommend aiming to lower the content to 7 micromoles.
Some people have a genetic inability to synthesize the B vitamins into their active forms, meaning they have a disruption in the folate cycle, resulting (especially after age 35) in high concentrations of homocysteine.
How to lower in a month? In such cases, it is difficult to achieve positive results only by giving up bad habits and dieting, if we talk about a general level of no more than 7 micromoles. It should be noted that earlier doctors prescribed folic acid in its pure form, however, active folate supplements or medicines based on them (methyltetrahydrofolic acid) have become popular in modern medicine, since inactive B9 with hereditary predisposition will not give the necessary results.
How to lower homocysteine when planning a pregnancy?
Scientific studies have shown that the greater the amount of methionine ingested with protein foods, the more likely it is to increase homocysteine levels and the higher the amount of B vitamins is needed to free from it. Therefore, excessive consumption of proteins, in particular, of animal origin, with a lack of foods enriched with vitamin B (vegetables, herbs and cereals), is the main prerequisite for the increase.
How to lower homocysteine when planning a pregnancy? Thismany are asking the question today.
It would seem that the solution to this problem is quite simple: reduce the consumption of dairy products and meat, and enrich the diet with cereals and green salads. But here it is necessary to mention bad habits that can nullify all the best undertakings. Smoking, alcohol and coffee have a critical impact on the state of affairs, which are often complemented by a sedentary lifestyle. Meat-eating, alcoholic beverages, nicotine and lack of exercise are the same risk group as high cholesterol. And as already noted, this amino acid is the main conductor of cholesterol in the vascular structures.
So, how to lower homocysteine when planning a pregnancy?
Before talking about the right diet, you should mark the forbidden line beyond which no diet will help. If a person takes care of his blood vessels, and even more so if he has already been diagnosed with one of the above diseases (atherosclerosis, the risk of developing heart failure, thrombosis, disorders of the nervous system, depressive states), as well as when planning a pregnancy, you urgently need to stop using:
- alcoholic drinks;
- nicotine;
- caffeinated products.
Caffeine
Caffeine destroys the enzymes methionine synthetase, which are responsible for the re-formation of methionine from homocysteine and the active phase of the folate cycle (when B vitamins are absorbed correctly and perform the necessaryfunctions). The norm for the consumption of tea and coffee is considered to be 2 cups a day.
How to lower homocysteine when planning a pregnancy, the doctor should tell.
Smoking
Smoking reduces vitamin B6 and B12 levels due to the cyanide present in cigarette smoke. This is further proof that passive smoking is much more harmful than active smoking, since it is from the smoke that non-smokers get a dose of a deadly toxin. In smokers, each cigarette increases homocysteine levels by 1% (in women) and by 0.5% (in men). For all the time of scientific research on the negative effects of homocysteine on he alth, the highest rates were found in smokers.
Alcoholic
Laboratory studies conducted by people with alcohol dependence confirm extremely low levels of folate and vitamin B6. Ethanol, the main alcohol component, inhibits the activity of methionine synthase, as a result of which the content of homocysteine in the blood increases to critical levels.
Foods that lower homocysteine
Let it enter the body through the consumption of animal proteins. Of these, in the process of synthesis, the amino acid methionine is first formed, which is subsequently converted to homocysteine. Thus, diet therapy involves limiting the intake of animal proteins. And besides this, the diet enriches the diet with B vitamins, which are cofactors for homocysteine conversion.
How to lower homocysteine in women with diet?
Restricted:
- Food of animal origin: red meat, turkey, chicken, pork. Approximately 6 hours after eating a protein meal, the level of homocytein in the blood increases by 10-15%.
- Dairy products: milk, cottage cheese, cheese, fermented milk products. Skip high protein meals such as sour cream and cottage cheese as they increase homocysteine levels in the morning.
- Beans in large quantities. Although they are a good source of B vitamins, and beans are also rich in folic acid, you should never overdose on these foods.
- Harmful combinations of meat and legumes in one meal. Different types of protein require a different approach of the body in order to process them. In the case of mixing, there are not only difficulties in the digestive processes, but also a significant increase in homocysteine.
Methionine itself is not dangerous. It causes serious disturbances in overdoses and changes in the folate cycle. If such a change is not of a genetic nature, then the normal range of homocysteine levels can be achieved with the help of a balanced diet with the obligatory presence of vitamins B1, B9, B6 and B 12.
Patients often ask how to lower homocysteine. Treatment should be comprehensive and timely.
Foods to include in your regular diet:
- Eggs, liver, fish, which in some cases can replace meat. It is officially proven that with a fish-vegan dietpeople achieve a 15% reduction in homocysteine levels without the addition of vitamin supplements. Liver and eggs are also sources of B vitamins, and especially B12, which is not found in any plant-based food.
- Spinach, arugula, parsley, broccoli, tomato, any vegetables. Vegetables and greens contain a lot of B vitamins, they contain donors of methyl groups and the content of methionine is reduced. The more intense the green color of the product, the more folic acid it contains.
- Nuts, especially peanuts and walnuts. Different nuts contain different B vitamins, so it's best to have a mixture of different nuts on a regular basis.
- Cereals - breakfast cereals, cereals from raw cereals. The most useful are oatmeal and buckwheat.
- Sprouted grains, which contain a huge amount of vitamin B and many other important elements. Therefore, the opportunity to enrich the diet with green cereal sprouts should not be neglected.
- Yeast, which can be added to any liquid food, the same goes for bran.
- Potatoes rich in vitamin B6.
- Rye bread rich in folic acid and vitamin B9.
When Pregnant
Women are also interested in how to lower homocysteine during pregnancy.
An increased level of a substance in the blood of pregnant women contributes to the development of pathologies, both for the fetus and the expectant mother. Scientific studies have shown a correlation between increased levelshomocysteine and hypoxia, preeclampsia, premature birth, bifurcated limbs in the fetus, stillbirth, Down's syndrome, and other genetic diseases.
Therefore, at values of more than 7 micromoles, doctors do not allow women to plan conception, and if extremely high rates are found in pregnant women, they prescribe dietary restrictions, prescribe increased doses of class B vitamins and folic acid to lower high homocysteine.
Diet in the early stages of gestation should be rich in proteins, which is necessary for the full formation of the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women should not refuse dairy products and meat. Some foods can provoke excessive metabolism or digestive disorders. If there are no deviations, then the best way out of this situation would be:
- separate meals;
- a smart combination of animal and vegetable products;
- milk and cereal dishes;
- dishes rich in vegetables and herbs.
We looked at how to lower homocysteine in women.
