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What Causes Elevated Homocysteine Levels In Blood?
Question: What causes High HOMOCYSTEINE ?
Hi My name XXXXXXX and i had recently gone for health check up. In the reports it shows i have high Homocysteine. When i googled this it showed that it is related to heart. I am attaching the reports here. Please go through it and let me know if i need to consult cardiologist for this. FYI i'm taking medicine(Parocen CR12.5) for Anxiety since one year.
Hi My name XXXXXXX and i had recently gone for health check up. In the reports it shows i have high Homocysteine. When i googled this it showed that it is related to heart. I am attaching the reports here. Please go through it and let me know if i need to consult cardiologist for this. FYI i'm taking medicine(Parocen CR12.5) for Anxiety since one year.
Brief Answer:
please see detailed answer
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
There are a number of causes of high homocysteine. However before I deliberate on that I would like to highlight a few things.
1. The high homocysteine levels has been proposed only a novel/ tentative risk factor for anginal heart disease. That means it is not surely known to medical sciences that elevated homocysteine levels are definitely associated with increase risk of heart attack and its reduction results in reduction of risk of heart attack. It has been seen that some patients with increased venous thrombosis at various sites including veins of brain. However the data regarding correlation to heart attack is not conclusive.
2. Your levels are marginally increased which may happen due to genetic mutations or increased consumption of certain pulses (high methionine content). It has also been seen in deficiency of vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 and folic acid. It is also seen in alcoholics and patients with kidney disease.
3. The following article in a reputed international journal clearly states that the association between high homocysteine levels and risk of coronary heart disease could not be established.
ACMG Practice Guideline: lack of evidence for MTHFR polymorphism testing.
XXXXXXX E. Hickey MD, FACMG, XXXXXXX J. Curry MD, FACMG & Helga V. Toriello PhD, FACMG. Genetics in Medicine. (2013). 15, 153–156. doi:10.1038/gim.2012.165
4. Order for this test as a part of risk assessment for CAD has not been recommended by international practice governing bodies. Treating high levels of homocysteine has not been shown to provide any benefit in risk reduction. However, any modifiable factor like low Vitamin levels should be addressed diligently.
Feel free to discuss further.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder
please see detailed answer
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
There are a number of causes of high homocysteine. However before I deliberate on that I would like to highlight a few things.
1. The high homocysteine levels has been proposed only a novel/ tentative risk factor for anginal heart disease. That means it is not surely known to medical sciences that elevated homocysteine levels are definitely associated with increase risk of heart attack and its reduction results in reduction of risk of heart attack. It has been seen that some patients with increased venous thrombosis at various sites including veins of brain. However the data regarding correlation to heart attack is not conclusive.
2. Your levels are marginally increased which may happen due to genetic mutations or increased consumption of certain pulses (high methionine content). It has also been seen in deficiency of vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 and folic acid. It is also seen in alcoholics and patients with kidney disease.
3. The following article in a reputed international journal clearly states that the association between high homocysteine levels and risk of coronary heart disease could not be established.
ACMG Practice Guideline: lack of evidence for MTHFR polymorphism testing.
XXXXXXX E. Hickey MD, FACMG, XXXXXXX J. Curry MD, FACMG & Helga V. Toriello PhD, FACMG. Genetics in Medicine. (2013). 15, 153–156. doi:10.1038/gim.2012.165
4. Order for this test as a part of risk assessment for CAD has not been recommended by international practice governing bodies. Treating high levels of homocysteine has not been shown to provide any benefit in risk reduction. However, any modifiable factor like low Vitamin levels should be addressed diligently.
Feel free to discuss further.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you Sir for clearing my doubts about homocysteine. Can you also check my other blood parameters and see everything fine. I see iron levels are marginally high too. Do i need to follow any special diet to control this?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Brief Answer:
wait, repeat and consult a physician
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
The serum iron levels and Transferrin saturation are higher than normal. Next step is to repeat these levels again after sometime typically after about 4weeks. If they are still high , kindly get serum ferritin levels and consult a physician.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder
wait, repeat and consult a physician
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
The serum iron levels and Transferrin saturation are higher than normal. Next step is to repeat these levels again after sometime typically after about 4weeks. If they are still high , kindly get serum ferritin levels and consult a physician.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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