You may have heard of homocysteine, but may not have a great understanding of what it is.  Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood.  Too much of it is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.  There is evidence that homocysteine may promote atherosclerosis by damaging the inner lining of arteries and promoting blood clots.

Folic acid and other B vitamins help break down homocysteine in the body.  Several studies have demonstrated that higher blood levels of B vitamins are related to lower concentrations of homocysteine.

Dietary supplementation with folic acid can reduce elevated homocysteine levels in most patients, typically at 1mg/day.  A recent study examined 80,000 women for 14 years and found that the incidence of heart attacks was lowest among those who used multivitamins or had the highest intake of folic acid from dietary sources1. 

Another recent study on the effect on homocysteine from either folic acid or B12 alone, found that the body adjusts its reliance on one or the other and that supplementing with both provides a more certain way to improve homocysteine levels2.

If you have been told you have high homocysteine levels or are at risk for heart disease, talk to your doctor about supplementing with folic acid.  Folic acid is available from your local health store or click here to purchase from Physician’s Preference.

1. Malinow MR and others. Homocyst(e)ine, diet, and cardiovascular diseases: A statement for healthcare professionals from the nutrition committee, American Heart Association. Circulation 99:178-182, 1999.
2. Quinlivan EP and others. Importance of both folic acid and vitamin B12 in reduction of risk of vascular disease. Lancet 359:227-228, 2002.

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