Homocysteine – Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Diseases
Kacper Nowak
2026-03-23
8 min. read
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Cardiovascular diseases pose a significant health concern worldwide. GUS data indicates they are the leading cause of death for both men and women in Poland. Commonly recognized risk factors for these diseases include obesity, hypertension, and tobacco smoking. Increasing attention is also being given to homocysteine, which has been acknowledged as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. How can one lower homocysteine levels in the blood? What are the causes of elevated homocysteine levels? What is homocysteine in essence?
Understanding Homocysteine: A Comprehensive Overview
Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is generated in the human body during the methylation of methionine. This biochemical reaction occurs in every cell of the body. Once formed, homocysteine enters the bloodstream, where it primarily circulates in an oxidized state bound to proteins. Since it is not incorporated into protein structures, it can be converted into methionine or cysteine. This conversion process involves two reactions: remethylation and transsulfuration. Unlike transsulfuration, remethylation is a reversible process that requires the active form of folic acid (5-methyltetrahydrofolate) and vitamin B12. Given that homocysteine in the bloodstream can only be converted through remethylation, folic acid plays a crucial role in maintaining the proper functioning of this system. Conversely, transsulfuration is a process that heavily depends on vitamin B6, leading to the conversion of homocysteine into cysteine. Under normal physiological conditions, a balance exists between the synthesis and degradation of homocysteine, preventing adverse effects on the body. Typically, about half of the homocysteine produced is converted into methionine. However, if homocysteine is not converted into methionine and/or cysteine, it accumulates in excess in the blood, exerting a toxic effect on the human body.
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