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This homocysteine test can illuminate your body’s vitamin B levels and methylation function.

Homocysteine is an amino acid that interacts with B vitamins to convert the following substances:

Methionine: essential amino acid and antioxidant that creates proteins.

Cysteine: nonessential amino acid created from methionine that reduces inflammation, increases communication between immune cells, and increases liver health

This is a great function. However, when homocysteine levels are high (usually a sign of vitamin B deficiency), it has the potential to curtail methylation and other biological systems.

High levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This might be due to how it can damage the lining of the arteries, promote blood clotting, or oxidative stress.

Elevated homocysteine levels can also be associated with a higher risk of other conditions, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis.

A number of factors can contribute to elevated homocysteine levels, including certain genetic variants, nutrient deficiencies (particularly in B-vitamins like folate, B6, and B12, which are used to metabolize homocysteine), kidney disease, and certain choices like smoking and alcohol.

Optimal Ranges

Female

Optimal range: 6.0-7.0 umol/L

Male

Slightly below: <4.0 umol/L

Optimal range: 6.0-7.0 umol/L

Homocysteine levels can be impacted by a few things:

Genetics

Health conditions: heart disease, Alzheimer's, dementia, diabetes, kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and poor thyroid function. These diseases are often caused by chronic inflammation, which can be tempered through a healthy diet and lifestyle shifts. Chronic inflammation reduces the body’s ability to absorb vitamins.

Malnourishment

Prescription Drugs: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) can impact the absorption of vital minerals, like depleting B12. Diuretics, like hydrochlorothiazide, accelerate the depletion of water-soluble vitamins and minerals.

Smoking, excessive caffeine, and alcohol

Vitamin B12, B6, or folate deficiency: If the body isn’t getting enough vitamin B12 or folate through diet, it may not convert homocysteine properly, leading to increased levels.

Foods to eat

Bs come in many forms, which include the below:

B12: fish like clams, trout, and salmon; grass-fed and regeneratively raised meats such as poultry, beef, and beef liver; pasture-raised eggs; and fortified foods like nutritional yeast, tofu, plant-based milks.

B9 (Folate): vegetables such as arugula, broccoli, broccoli rabe, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, daikon, garden cress, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radish, rutabaga, turnips, and watercress; and legumes like kidney beans, butter beans, chickpeas, adzuki beans, black beans, navy beans, pinto beans, mung beans, black-eyed peas, red or green lentils.

B6: carrots, potato, spinach, and soybean; grass-fed and regeneratively raised meats such as poultry, beef, and beef liver; legumes like lentils; and nuts and seeds, including almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, macadamia, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds.