What is homocysteine in pregnancy?
Homocysteine is an intermediate metabolite implicated in the risk of placenta-mediated complications, including preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal growth restriction, and pregnancy loss. Large cohort and case-control studies have reported inconsistent associations between homocysteine and these complications.
What is homocysteine normal levels?
In a healthy person, homocysteine levels are around five to 15 micromoles per liter (mcmol/L). Nearly all that homocysteine converts to other proteins. If you have more than 50 mcmol/L, the excess homocysteine may damage the lining of your arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body).
What is the impact of increased level of homocysteine during pregnancy?
In normal pregnancy, homocysteine concentrations fall. Disturbance of maternal and fetal homocysteine metabolism has been associated with fetal neural tube defects, with various conditions characterized by placental vasculopathy, such as pre-eclampsia and abruption, and with recurrent pregnancy loss.
Can high homocysteine levels cause miscarriage?
In particular, high levels of homocysteine have been found in 25% (10) of women with unexplained early fetal loss. Conclusion: Hypercystinemia, as a consequence of an interaction between a primary genetic defect and a nutrition condition (folate deficiency), may be a cause of recurrent miscarriages.
How do I lower my homocysteine levels?
Elevated homocysteine levels can be lowered. We know that folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are all involved in breaking down homocysteine in the blood. Therefore, increasing your intake of folic acid and B vitamins may lower your homocysteine level.
How does homocysteine affect fertility?
High homocysteine, a typical sign of low folate, may impair sperm production due to reduced DNA synthesis and abnormal methylation 18. The inflammation from hyperhomocysteinemia can lead to impaired sperm parameters and infertility. The increased oxidative stress can damage sperm DNA.
What level of homocysteine is too high?
Most laboratories report normal homocysteine levels in the blood between 4 and 15 micromoles/liter (µmol/L). Any measurement above 15 is considered high. Any measurement below 12 is considered low. Optimal homocysteine levels are below 10 to 12.
How are folic acid vitamin B12 and homocysteine related?
Vitamin B12 deficiency, therefore, can lead to increased levels of serum methylmalonic acid. In the second reaction, homocysteine is converted to methionine by using vitamin B12 and folic acid as cofactors. In this reaction, a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid may lead to increased homocysteine levels.
What do elevated homocysteine levels mean?
If your results show high homocysteine levels, it may mean: You are not getting enough vitamin B12, B6, or folic acid in your diet. You are at a higher risk of heart disease. Homocystinuria. If high levels of homocysteine are found, more testing will be needed to rule out or confirm a diagnosis.
Can folic acid prevent a miscarriage?
Taking Folic Acid A large study of almost 24,000 Chinese women published in 2001 also found no link between supplementation and miscarriage risk. 5 Bottom line: Folic acid supplementation does not appear to increase the risk of miscarriages.
Does folic acid lower homocysteine levels?
Folic acid is the most important dietary determinant of homocysteine; daily supplementation with 0.5 to 5.0 mg typically lowers plasma homocysteine levels by about 25 percent.
Can stress raise homocysteine levels?
The study of 34 middle-aged women found that brief periods of stress increased blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. Research over the past 20 years has found that an even moderately elevated level of homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease in both men and women.