MidLife
Factors that influence homocysteine levels
We think that the old adage -- you are what you eat – is true! Vitamins in the diet, especially folic acid (folate), B6 and B12, affect the level of homocysteine in the blood. Most Americans don't get enough folic acid from their diet. The Framingham Heart study showed that many people require 400 micrograms of folic acid to keep homocysteine levels from rising above normal.
This information may make you think that a diet supplement with folic acid and B vitamins is just the right thing. However, the research so far has only been done on dietary (food intake) sources of folic acid, and there is no evidence to show a benefit to taking a folic acid supplement for heart disease.
Genetics may also play a role. Families with a history of heart disease beginning at an early age were also found to have higher levels of homocysteine. Older people, including women after menopause, have higher levels of homocysteine than younger ones – is this related to genetics, diet, exercise, hormones, or aging? The answer is - no one is sure. More research is needed to explain these differences.
