Re: Homocysteine

Quentin Grady wrote:
This post not CC'd by email
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 20:13:20 -0800, "Anon" <anon4592004@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I have been taking folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 for almost 2 years. They were supposed to lower my homocysteine and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. Now they are saying they do lower the homocysteine but have little or no effect on the risk. In fact, they may increase the risk!

http://Homocysteine.notlong.com

I am beginning to think I would fair better if I got my health advice from South American Shaman rather than doctors.

Anon

G'day G'day Anon,

Elevated homocysteine has been an excellent marker for a
pathological process. Homocysteine is a naturally occurring
intermediate in amino acid metabolism. When the metabolism isn't
normal the steady state level of homocysteine rises. There are two
processes that reduce the levels of homocysteine. One converts it
eventually to SAMe and the other to glutathione, both having wonderful
benefits for health.

At first the medical world was enamored with high dose folic acid.
That worked in reducing homocysteine levels but didn't reduce
morbidity.

Then they added Vit B12 and B6. I'm not sure how well that has worked
with morbidity and would appreciate someone coming up with the actual
research on the matter rather than an internet opinion piece.

Perhaps the problem is they haven't spread their net wide enough even
now. The actual ingredients needed for full conversion to SAMe is TMG
(trimethylglycine supported by B12, folate, B6, B2, magnesium and
zinc. The pathway to glutathione requires B6, B2 and zinc.
<snip>

Thanks Quentin, this gives me some homework. In light of the findings of this study, I am interested to see the results of a similar study that I just started. Although the initial stage just finished, last month I joined a five year extension. The study is known as FAVORIT, and is studying a similar combination of vitamins in a smaller sub-group of patients than those in the general population, which the study just released in the N.E.J.M. covered. FAVORIT covers only renal transplant patients, who are at greater risk than the general population for cardiovascular morbidity.

The prospective study of renal patients in Australia that preceded FAVORIT indicated that: "After adjustment for several important risk factors, elevated tHcy levels (>/=12 micromol/L) were associated with 2.44 times the mortality risk of patients with normal tHcy levels" "Similarly, elevated tHcy levels were associated with 1.63 times increased risk of kidney allograft loss"

Fasting Plasma Total Homocysteine Levels and Mortality and Allograft Loss in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Study
Winkelmayer WC, Kramar R, Curhan GC, et al
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2005;16(1):255-260

Whether I get the placebo or 1 of 2 doses of vitamins, hopefully the study will show that at least some people get some benefit in reducing homocysteine levels.

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/patient/favorit/favorit.htm

Dennis (Type 2, Kidney Transplant 1995)
.

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