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Elevated Homocysteine Levels May Affect Your Ability to Think
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
September 10 2003 | 2,717 views

Elevated homocysteine levels, which are a risk factor for vascular disease, are associated with a decrease in cognitive ability among the elderly. Researchers suggest that lowering homocysteine levels with B-vitamin supplements may provide some protection against mental decline among this age group.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition September, 2003;78(3):441-447


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These findings make sense because elevated homocysteine is a marker for:

  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency
  • Folic acid deficiency
  • A deficiency of both vitamin B-12 and folic acid

Homocysteine is also a well-documented risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is related to both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin B-12 is required for a healthy central nervous system, and up to 10 percent of patients with pernicious anemia have prominent mental symptoms, including memory loss.

Both vitamin B-12 and folate are also necessary to ensure adequate methylation by S-adenosylmethionine in the synthesis of:

  • Neurotransmitters
  • Myelin
  • Phosphatidylcholine
  • Other compounds important to the nervous system

Many people routinely take high-dose vitamin supplements, and folic acid is typically in them. They also have vitamin B-12 in them, but because vitamin B-12 is such a large molecule it is very poorly absorbed and requires sublingual (under the tongue), injection therapy or transdermal application for optimum absorption. Because of this, vitamin B-12 deficiency is more likely to be a result of elevated homocysteine levels.

This is quite consistent with the finding that many vegetarians have elevated homocysteine levels, since vegetarian diets are often lacking in vitamin B-12. So one thing you can do is eat plenty of raw vegetables as they have been shown to reduce homocysteine levels by increasing levels of folic acid.

However, if you are a vegetarian you will certainly want to get very serious about optimizing your vitamin B-12 levels. Since B-12 is readily available in most meat, low levels are not a problem for most people until they get older and lose the ability to make intrinsic factor to help them absorb vitamin B-12.

Related Articles:

Vegetarians and Vegans Have Elevated Homocysteine Levels

Homocysteine May Lead to Pregnancy Complications and Birth Defects

Insulin May Raise Homocysteine

Vegetarian Diet Increases Alzheimers Risk

More Vegetables Lowers Your Stroke Risk

Folate Deficiency Linked to Parkinson's





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